The Ridings At Blue Spring Dam dam
The Ridings At Blue Spring Dam
The Ridings At Blue Spring Dam in Loudoun, Virginia, is a privately owned structure designed for flood risk reduction along the Cub Run tributary. Standing at 11 feet tall and with a length of 280 feet, this earth dam plays a crucial role in mitigating potential flooding in the area. Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its effectiveness in protecting the surrounding community.
With a storage capacity of 59.9 acre-feet and a normal storage of 7.5 acre-feet, The Ridings At Blue Spring Dam provides essential flood control measures for the region. Despite being classified as having an undetermined hazard potential and not rated in terms of condition assessment, the dam's presence offers a sense of security for residents in the face of potential water resource challenges. Its location within the Baltimore District and the oversight provided by state agencies highlight the collaborative efforts involved in managing water resources and climate-related risks in the area.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like The Ridings At Blue Spring Dam sheds light on the intricate network of infrastructure dedicated to safeguarding communities against natural disasters. The dam's role in flood risk reduction, its state-regulated status, and its strategic design underscore the importance of proactive measures in water management to ensure the resilience of our environment in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 The Ridings At Blue Spring Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Goose Creek Near Leesburg | 67 cfs | → |
| Broad Run Near Leesburg | 188 cfs | → |
| Difficult Run Near Great Falls | 149 cfs | → |
| Long Branch Near Annandale | 52 cfs | → |
| Accotink Creek Near Annandale | 411 cfs | → |
| N F Goose Creek At Rt 729 Near Lincoln | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near The Ridings At Blue Spring Dam.
Boat launches
- Ashburn Village Boulevard 20585, Lansdowne
- Rileys Lock Road Darnestown
- Edwards Ferry Road Montgomery County
- Sinclair Lane Prince William County
- Potomac Hills Street Fairfax County
- Doves Trail Prince William County
Fishing spots
- Gillam Branch (Historical)
- Washington Aqueduct
- Dalecarlia Reservoir
- Davis Branch (Historical)
- Maddox Branch
- Georgetown Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
Track The Ridings At Blue Spring 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 The Ridings At Blue Spring Dam
Where does the data for The Ridings At Blue Spring 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 The Ridings At Blue Spring Dam.