Cold Sulpher Springs Dam dam
Cold Sulpher Springs Dam
Cold Sulpher Springs Dam, located in Rockbridge, Virginia, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This Earth-type dam stands at a height of 26 feet and spans 250 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 145 acre-feet. The dam serves a primary purpose of recreation, offering opportunities for water-based activities in the surrounding area.
Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, Cold Sulpher Springs Dam's condition remains unrated as of the last inspection in 2013. The dam is situated on the Cold Sulphur Springs Branch and is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and structural integrity. With a drainage area of 1.94 square miles and a surface area of 6 acres, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region and provides a picturesque backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts and climate advocates to enjoy.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the maintenance and regulation of dams like Cold Sulpher Springs Dam become increasingly important. With its location in a region prone to significant hazard potential, ongoing monitoring and risk assessments are crucial to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the preservation of this recreational water source. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cold Sulpher Springs Dam serves as a reminder of the intricate balance between human development and environmental stewardship 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 Cold Sulpher Springs Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Calfpasture River Above Mill Creek At Goshen | 22 cfs | → |
| Maury River At Rockbridge Baths | 56 cfs | → |
| Kerrs Creek Near Lexington | 10 cfs | → |
| Bullpasture River At Williamsville | 32 cfs | → |
| Maury River Near Buena Vista | 110 cfs | → |
| Cowpasture River Near Clifton Forge | 128 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cold Sulpher Springs Dam.
Boat launches
- Walton Tract Canoe Access Point
- Douthat State Park Road Bath County
- Walter Robinson Canoe Access Point
- Botetourt Road Botetourt County
- Jackson River Canoe Access Points
- Lake Sherwood Road Greenbrier County
Campgrounds
- Site 1 - West Lake
- Site 3 - Glenmont Hills
- Site 7 - Dudley
- Site 8 - Camp Robinson
- Site 9 - Barbash
- Site 12 - Camp Knadle
Fishing spots
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Segment B--Confluence With Bullpasture River To Route 42 Bridge
- Ford Where Route 609 Departs From Route 678 To Confluence With Cowpasture River
- Segment B--Northern Boundary, Hidden Valley Tract To Southern Boundary Of Hidden Valley Tract
- Segment C--Southern Boundary Hidden Valley Tract To Mcclintic Bridge
- Segment A--Route 42 Bridge To Confluence With Jackson River
- Headwaters South Of Flint Mountain To St. Mary's Wilderness Boundary
Track Cold Sulpher Springs 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 Cold Sulpher Springs Dam
Where does the data for Cold Sulpher Springs 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 Significant 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 Cold Sulpher Springs Dam.