Neals Dam dam
Neals Dam
Neals Dam, located in Orange, Virginia on the Barbour Run river, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreation purposes. With a height of 20 feet and a length of 325 feet, this earth dam provides a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, making it an important water resource in the area. Despite being undetermined in terms of hazard potential and not yet rated for its condition, the dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia.
The dam, situated in the Baltimore District, is overseen by the state regulatory agency and is subject to permitting and inspection requirements. Although details such as the year of completion and specific design features are not provided, the dam's presence adds to the scenic beauty of the surrounding landscape and offers recreational opportunities for visitors. Abigail Davis Spanberger (D) represents the area in Congress, highlighting the importance of this water resource and infrastructure for the local community and environment. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Neals Dam to be an intriguing structure that contributes to the natural ecosystem and provides recreational benefits for residents and visitors alike.
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 Neals Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rapidan River Near Ruckersville | 170 cfs | → |
| Robinson River Near Locust Dale | 226 cfs | → |
| N F Rivanna River Near Earlysville | 159 cfs | → |
| Rapidan River Near Culpeper | 461 cfs | → |
| Moormans River Near Free Union | 61 cfs | → |
| Rivanna River At Palmyra | 532 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Neals Dam.
Boat launches
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
- River Anne Palmyra
- Southlake Drive 9505, Spotsylvania County
- Columbia Road Columbia
- Elys Ford Road 10615, Fredericksburg
Campgrounds
- Christopher Run Campground
- Lake Anna State Park
- Lewis Mountain Campground
- Lewis Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
- Lewis Mountain
- Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
Fishing spots
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Moody Boat Launch
- Batzell Boat Launch
- White Sulphur Pond
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- Nf Boundary Along The South Fork Tye River Near Fdt 526 And State Highway 56 To Town Of Nash
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- North River Campground To Camp May Flather
- Headwaters South Of Flint Mountain To St. Mary's Wilderness Boundary
Track Neals 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 Neals Dam
Where does the data for Neals 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 Neals Dam.