E.H. Mills Memorial Dam dam
E.H. Mills Memorial Dam
E.H. Mills Memorial Dam, also known as Massaponax Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Spotsylvania, Virginia. This dam serves multiple purposes, with recreation being its primary function, along with providing water supply. Standing at a height of 23 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 1070 acre-feet and is classified as an earth dam.
Managed and regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, E.H. Mills Memorial Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently not rated in terms of its condition assessment. Despite its age, the dam has not undergone any significant modifications or inspections in recent years. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan prepared, it meets guidelines for safety and is equipped to handle potential risks.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, E.H. Mills Memorial Dam represents a unique blend of recreational use and water supply management in the heart of Virginia. With its historical significance as a part of the local landscape, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and regulating our water resources for both practical and leisurely purposes.
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 E.H. Mills Memorial Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rappahannock River Near Fredericksburg | 213 cfs | → |
| Po River Near Spotsylvania | 4 cfs | → |
| Mattaponi River Near Bowling Green | 13 cfs | → |
| Aquia Creek Near Garrisonville | 2 cfs | → |
| North Anna River Near Partlow | 46 cfs | → |
| S F Quantico Creek Near Independent Hill | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near E.H. Mills Memorial Dam.
Boat launches
- Old Wharf Road King George County
- Southlake Drive 9505, Spotsylvania County
- Elys Ford Road Spotsylvania County
- County Road 639 1302, Stafford County
- Elys Ford Road 10615, Fredericksburg
- Friendship Landing Road 4701, Charles County
Campgrounds
- Champs Rv Military - A P Hill
- Lunga Park Military - Quantico Mcb
- Campsite #6
- Campground 3
- Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground
- Cabin Camp 4 - Pleasant Historic District
Fishing spots
Track E.H. Mills Memorial 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 E.H. Mills Memorial Dam
Where does the data for E.H. Mills Memorial 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 E.H. Mills Memorial Dam.