Burrus Dam dam
Burrus Dam
Burrus Dam, located in Orange, Virginia, is a state-regulated structure managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This Earth-type dam stands at 20 feet high and spans 690 feet along the TR-Mountain Run river or stream. With a primary purpose of recreation, Burrus Dam offers a storage capacity of 119 acre-feet, providing ample opportunities for water-based activities in the area.
Although the hazard potential of Burrus Dam is currently labeled as "Undetermined" and its condition assessment is marked as "Not Rated," the dam is regularly inspected and maintained by state regulatory agencies. It is reassuring to know that the dam meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements, ensuring the safety of both the structure and the surrounding community. Additionally, the dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and management measures are all areas that could see potential future improvements.
While Burrus Dam may not have a significant history of modifications or a detailed risk assessment in place, its vital role in providing recreational opportunities and water storage cannot be overlooked. As a focal point for outdoor enthusiasts and climate advocates alike, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible water resource management and the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and sustainability of our natural surroundings.
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 Burrus Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rapidan River Near Culpeper | 461 cfs | → |
| Robinson River Near Locust Dale | 226 cfs | → |
| Rapidan River Near Ruckersville | 170 cfs | → |
| Rappahannock River At Remington | 872 cfs | → |
| Hazel River At Rixeyville | 586 cfs | → |
| N F Rivanna River Near Earlysville | 159 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burrus Dam.
Boat launches
- Elys Ford Road 10615, Fredericksburg
- Southlake Drive 9505, Spotsylvania County
- Elys Ford Road Spotsylvania County
- Rogues Road Fauquier County
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
Campgrounds
- Christopher Run Campground
- Lake Anna State Park
- Lewis Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
- Lewis Mountain
- Lewis Mountain Campground
- Big Meadows - 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
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- 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 Burrus 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 Burrus Dam
Where does the data for Burrus 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 Burrus Dam.