Lake Powell Dam dam
Lake Powell Dam
Lake Powell Dam, also known as Durfey's Pond, is a private dam located in James City, Virginia, along the MILL CREEK river. Standing at a height of 19 feet with a length of 800 feet, this earthen dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a storage capacity of 807 acre-feet. Despite being privately owned, the dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, ensuring that it meets state inspection and enforcement standards.
With its undetermined hazard potential and current condition not rated, Lake Powell Dam presents an intriguing case for water resource and climate enthusiasts. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment are yet to be determined, raising questions about its resilience to potential hazards. As it stands, the dam's risk management measures and inundation maps prepared remain unknown, leaving room for further exploration and evaluation of its safety and sustainability.
As part of the Norfolk District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Powell Dam's unique characteristics, including its location in a picturesque setting and recreational focus, make it a fascinating subject for those interested in water resource management and climate change impacts on infrastructure. The dam's presence in the James City county of Virginia, under the oversight of state regulatory agencies, offers a glimpse into the complex interplay between human-made structures, natural water systems, and environmental stewardship in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Lake Powell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River Near Dendron | 1 cfs | → |
| Chickahominy River Near Providence Forge | 27 cfs | → |
| Dragon Swamp At Mascot | 14 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Franklin | 14 cfs | → |
| Nottoway River Near Sebrell | 499 cfs | → |
| Appomattox River At Matoaca | 121 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Powell Dam.
Boat launches
- Jamestown Road 1826, James City County
- Marina Drive Surry County
- Charles City County
- Campsite Drive 606, Lee Hall
- Cappahosic Road Gloucester County
- Denbigh Boulevard 3, Newport News
Track Lake Powell 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 Lake Powell Dam
Where does the data for Lake Powell 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 Lake Powell Dam.