Lake Of The Woods Dam dam
Lake Of The Woods Dam
Lake of The Woods Dam is a privately owned structure located in Orange, Virginia, along the Flat Run river. Standing at a height of 65.5 feet, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a storage capacity of 14,160 acre-feet of water. With a normal storage level of 9,880 acre-feet and a drainage area of 7.2 square miles, the dam covers a surface area of 500 acres, making it an essential feature for water resource management in the region.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, Lake of The Woods Dam has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in December 2017. The dam has a designated emergency action plan in place, with regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. Despite its private ownership, the dam plays a vital role in maintaining water levels and providing recreational opportunities for the surrounding community.
Situated within the Baltimore District, Lake of The Woods Dam is a key infrastructure component for water enthusiasts and climate advocates alike. With its strategic location and storage capacity, the dam not only supports recreational activities but also contributes to water resource management and flood control efforts in the area. As a regulated and inspected structure, it underscores the importance of responsible dam maintenance and emergency preparedness in safeguarding both the environment and the community.
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 Lake Of The Woods Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rapidan River Near Culpeper | 99 cfs | → |
| Rappahannock River Near Fredericksburg | 213 cfs | → |
| Rappahannock River At Remington | 136 cfs | → |
| Po River Near Spotsylvania | 4 cfs | → |
| Robinson River Near Locust Dale | 43 cfs | → |
| Aquia Creek Near Garrisonville | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Of The Woods Dam.
Boat launches
- Elys Ford Road 10615, Fredericksburg
- Elys Ford Road Spotsylvania County
- Southlake Drive 9505, Spotsylvania County
- Rogues Road Fauquier County
- County Road 639 1302, Stafford County
- Doves Trail Prince William County
Campgrounds
- Lake Anna State Park
- Christopher Run Campground
- Lunga Park Military - Quantico Mcb
- Campsite #6
- Oak Ridge - Prince William Forest Park
- Oak Ridge Campground
Fishing spots
- Piscataway Creek
- Moody Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Batzell Boat Launch
- Hatton Creek
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
Track Lake Of The Woods 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 Lake Of The Woods Dam
Where does the data for Lake Of The Woods 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 High 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 Lake Of The Woods Dam.