Darr Dam dam
Darr Dam
Darr Dam, located in King George, Virginia, is a privately owned earth dam primarily built for recreational purposes. With a height of 31 feet and a storage capacity of 71 acre-feet, this dam contributes to the conservation of water resources in the area. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation to ensure its safety and compliance with state standards.
The dam, situated within the Norfolk District, does not have a spillway or associated locks, but it covers a surface area of 6.2 acres and serves a drainage area of 0.01 square miles. Although the last inspection was conducted in 2015, with a recommended inspection frequency of once a year, the dam continues to be a vital component of the local water management system. However, there is no detailed information available on its construction year or any modifications made over the years.
Given its strategic location and purpose, Darr Dam remains a key site for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and regulation of dams in Virginia. As a privately owned structure with state oversight, it presents a unique case study in balancing recreational benefits with the need for safety and compliance in water resource management.
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 Darr Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rappahannock River Near Fredericksburg | 213 cfs | → |
| Aquia Creek Near Garrisonville | 2 cfs | → |
| Mattaponi River Near Bowling Green | 13 cfs | → |
| Po River Near Spotsylvania | 4 cfs | → |
| S F Quantico Creek Near Independent Hill | 0 cfs | → |
| Mattawoman Creek Near Pomonkey | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Darr Dam.
Boat launches
- Old Wharf Road King George County
- County Road 639 1302, Stafford County
- Friendship Landing Road 4701, Charles County
- Elys Ford Road Spotsylvania County
- Elys Ford Road 10615, Fredericksburg
- Southlake Drive 9505, Spotsylvania County
Campgrounds
- Champs Rv Military - A P Hill
- Lunga Park Military - Quantico Mcb
- Campsite #6
- Campground 3
- Smallwood State Park Youth Group Campsite
- Smallwood State Park
Fishing spots
Track Darr 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 Darr Dam
Where does the data for Darr 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 Low 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 Darr Dam.