Rayborn Dam dam
Rayborn Dam
Rayborn Dam, located in Loudoun, Virginia, is a privately owned earth dam with a primary purpose of water supply. Standing at a height of 25 feet and stretching 702 feet in length, the dam has a storage capacity of 139.4 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 90.7 acre-feet. Situated on TR-Goose Creek, the dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, ensuring its compliance with state regulations for inspection, permitting, and enforcement.
Despite being classified as having an undetermined hazard potential and not yet rated for its condition assessment, Rayborn Dam serves as a critical water resource infrastructure in the region. With a surface area of 11.3 acres, the dam plays a vital role in water storage and supply for the surrounding area. Although the exact year of completion is unknown, the dam continues to fulfill its purpose of providing water for the community, showcasing the importance of proper maintenance and oversight to ensure its continued functionality and safety.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, understanding the role of dams like Rayborn Dam in water supply becomes increasingly crucial. With state oversight and regulation in place, the dam serves as a key example of how private ownership can contribute to sustainable water management practices. As enthusiasts in water resources and climate, it is essential to monitor the condition and regulation of dams like Rayborn Dam to ensure their resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Rayborn Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Goose Creek Near Middleburg | 16 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek At Rt 734 Near Mountville | 5 cfs | → |
| N F Goose Creek At Rt 729 Near Lincoln | 8 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek Near Leesburg | 46 cfs | → |
| Spout Run At Rt 621 Near Millwood | 8 cfs | → |
| S F Catoctin Creek At Rt 698 Near Waterford | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rayborn Dam.
Boat launches
- Harry Byrd Highway Clarke County
- River Haven Drive Jefferson County
- Shannondale Springs Road 199, Jefferson County
- Smart's Mill Rd (Private) Leesburg
- Ashburn Village Boulevard 20585, Lansdowne
- Bloomery Road 742, Jefferson County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Potomac River Reservoir
- Culler Lake
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal
- Batzell Boat Launch
- Washington Aqueduct
- Gillam Branch (Historical)
Paddle runs
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
Track Rayborn 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 Rayborn Dam
Where does the data for Rayborn 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 Rayborn Dam.