Potomac Creek Dam #1 dam
Potomac Creek Dam #1
Potomac Creek Dam #1, also known as Abel Lake, is a local government-owned structure located in Stafford, Virginia. This earth dam stands at an impressive height of 94 feet and spans 935 feet in length, providing flood risk reduction for the Potomac Creek area. With a storage capacity of 11,400 acre-feet and a normal storage of 4,000 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in water supply management while also serving its primary purpose of flood risk reduction.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, Potomac Creek Dam #1 is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its structural integrity. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition was last assessed as satisfactory in October 2019. With a drainage area of 30.5 square miles and a surface area of 185 acres, this dam is a key component in the water resource infrastructure of the region.
Located in a picturesque setting along the Potomac Creek, this dam not only contributes to flood risk reduction and water supply management but also serves as a vital structure in the region's overall water resource management strategy. As an essential piece of infrastructure in Stafford, Virginia, Potomac Creek Dam #1 stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management practices in the face of climate challenges and changing environmental conditions.
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 Potomac Creek Dam #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rappahannock River Near Fredericksburg | 213 cfs | → |
| Aquia Creek Near Garrisonville | 2 cfs | → |
| S F Quantico Creek Near Independent Hill | 0 cfs | → |
| Po River Near Spotsylvania | 4 cfs | → |
| Cedar Run Near Catlett | 5 cfs | → |
| Rappahannock River At Remington | 136 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Potomac Creek Dam #1.
Boat launches
- County Road 639 1302, Stafford County
- Elys Ford Road Spotsylvania County
- Elys Ford Road 10615, Fredericksburg
- Southlake Drive 9505, Spotsylvania County
- Old Wharf Road King George County
- Friendship Landing Road 4701, Charles County
Campgrounds
- Lunga Park Military - Quantico Mcb
- Campsite #6
- Campground 3
- Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground
- Oak Ridge - Prince William Forest Park
- Oak Ridge Campground
Fishing spots
Track Potomac Creek Dam #1 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 Potomac Creek Dam #1
Where does the data for Potomac Creek Dam #1 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 Potomac Creek Dam #1.