Black Fox Hills Dam dam
Black Fox Hills Dam
Black Fox Hills Dam, also known as Union Hill Lake, is a privately owned earth dam located in Nelson, Virginia. With a height of 48 feet and a length of 327 feet, this dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a storage capacity of 1109 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 42 acres. The dam sits on Union Hill Creek and is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia.
While the dam has a low hazard potential and its condition has not been officially rated since August 2003, it undergoes regular inspections and meets state regulatory requirements for permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The last inspection took place in 2003, with an inspection frequency of 1. Although the dam has not been modified in recent years, emergency action plans have been prepared and updated periodically to ensure preparedness in case of any unforeseen events.
Despite being privately owned, Black Fox Hills Dam serves as a vital recreational resource in the area, offering a picturesque setting for outdoor activities. Its strategic location and historical significance make it a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts who appreciate the importance of sustainable dam management and conservation efforts in preserving our natural water systems.
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 Black Fox Hills Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James River At Bent Creek | 826 cfs | → |
| Tye River Near Lovingston | 72 cfs | → |
| Piney River At Piney River | 49 cfs | → |
| Rockfish River Near Greenfield | 41 cfs | → |
| James River At Scottsville | 1,600 cfs | → |
| Holiday Creek Near Andersonville | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Black Fox Hills Dam.
Boat launches
- Nelson County
- James River Road Nelson County
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
- Richmond Highway Appomattox County
- State Park Road 2618, Appomattox County
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
Campgrounds
- James River State Park
- Holliday Lake State Park
- Sherando Lake
- Sherando Lake Recreation Area
- Oronoco
- Bear Creek Lake State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Farmville
- Nf Boundary Along The South Fork Tye River Near Fdt 526 And State Highway 56 To Town Of Nash
- Headwaters South Of Flint Mountain To St. Mary's Wilderness Boundary
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
- Top Of Apple Orchards Falls To Confluence Of North Creek With Jennings Creek
- North River Campground To Camp May Flather
Track Black Fox Hills 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 Black Fox Hills Dam
Where does the data for Black Fox Hills 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 Black Fox Hills Dam.