Walker Coleman Dam dam
Walker Coleman Dam
Walker Coleman Dam, located in King and Queen County, Virginia, is a state-owned earth dam primarily built for recreational purposes along Market Swamp Creek. Standing at a height of 22 feet with a length of 600 feet, this dam provides a storage capacity of 700 acre-feet. Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment as of March 2020, the dam is regularly inspected, regulated, and permitted by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, ensuring its safety and compliance with state jurisdiction.
This dam, part of the Norfolk District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, serves as a vital recreational resource in the area, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts alike. The surrounding county, represented by Congressman Robert J. Wittman, benefits from the dam's reservoir for various recreational activities. However, with its condition assessment indicating a need for improvement, stakeholders must prioritize maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the long-term safety and functionality of the Walker Coleman Dam.
Enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate monitoring should keep an eye on the updates regarding Walker Coleman Dam, as its role in providing recreational opportunities while managing potential hazards highlights the delicate balance between human enjoyment and environmental safety in dam infrastructure. With ongoing inspections and regulatory oversight, this dam showcases the importance of responsible management and maintenance practices to safeguard both the community and the surrounding ecosystem.
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 Walker Coleman Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Piscataway Creek Near Tappahannock | 13 cfs | → |
| Dragon Swamp At Mascot | 13 cfs | → |
| Mattaponi River Near Beulahville | 47 cfs | → |
| Totopotomoy Creek Near Studley | 2 cfs | → |
| Pamunkey River Near Hanover | 86 cfs | → |
| Chickahominy River Near Providence Forge | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walker Coleman Dam.
Track Walker Coleman 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 Walker Coleman Dam
Where does the data for Walker Coleman 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 Significant 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 Walker Coleman Dam.