Silica Dam dam
Silica Dam
Silica Dam, also known as the U.S. Silica Open Pit, is a vital structure located in Hanover, Virginia, along the tributary of the South Anna River. Standing at a height of 28 feet with a length of 2000 feet, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of debris control. Owned by unspecified entities and not regulated by the state, Silica Dam's hazard potential is currently undetermined, with a condition assessment that has not been rated.
Despite its lack of state oversight, Silica Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. With a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet and a hydraulic height matching its structural height of 28 feet, this dam helps control the flow of water and debris along the South Anna River tributary. While its specific construction date and details remain unknown, Silica Dam continues to stand as a significant landmark in the region, ensuring the safety and efficiency of water management practices.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts delve into understanding the intricate network of dams in Virginia, Silica Dam stands out for its unique purpose and design. With no state jurisdiction or regulatory agency overseeing its operations, this structure represents a lesser-known aspect of water management infrastructure. Despite its undetermined hazard potential and unrated condition assessment, Silica Dam remains a key player in maintaining the ecological balance and water flow in the Hanover region, making it a site of interest for those passionate about sustainable water resource management and climate resilience.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Silica Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Anna River Near Ashland | 34 cfs | → |
| Fine Creek At Fine Creek Mills | 2 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Doswell | 8 cfs | → |
| James River And Kanawha Canal Near Richmond | 137 cfs | → |
| North Anna River At Hart Corner Near Doswell | 55 cfs | → |
| James River Near Richmond | 1,230 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Silica Dam.
Boat launches
- Mountain Road Hanover County
- Watkins Landing Road 3099, Powhatan County
- Bateau Landing Road 4399, Powhatan County
- Powhatan State Park Road Powhatan County
- River Trail Powhatan County
- River Launch Road Powhatan County
Track Silica Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Silica Dam
Where does the data for Silica Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Undetermined hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Silica Dam.