Starkweather Dam dam
Starkweather Dam
Starkweather Dam in Stafford, Virginia, stands as a significant water resource managed by a private owner. The dam, with a height of 33.25 feet and a storage capacity of 68.5 acre-feet, plays a crucial role in regulating water flow in the region. While its primary purpose and dam type remain unspecified, the dam's state-regulated status ensures compliance with safety and operational standards enforced by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Located in the Norfolk District, Starkweather Dam has a structural height matching its hydraulic height, indicating a robust design to withstand hydraulic pressures. Despite its undetermined hazard potential and lack of a formal condition rating, the dam's inspection frequency of 1 indicates regular monitoring for any emerging issues. While details about emergency preparedness and risk assessment are not provided, the presence of state-permitting, inspection, and enforcement mechanisms underscore a commitment to maintaining the dam's integrity and public safety.
Starkweather Dam's role in water management in Stafford, Virginia, highlights the intersection of private ownership and state regulation in safeguarding critical infrastructure. With its storage capacity and hydraulic height, the dam serves as a key component in water resource management, albeit with limited information on its operational history and modifications. As climate change impacts water resources, ensuring the resilience and safety of dams like Starkweather becomes increasingly important, emphasizing the need for comprehensive risk assessments and emergency preparedness measures to mitigate potential hazards and protect downstream communities.
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 Starkweather Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Aquia Creek Near Garrisonville | 2 cfs | → |
| Rappahannock River Near Fredericksburg | 213 cfs | → |
| S F Quantico Creek Near Independent Hill | 0 cfs | → |
| Cedar Run Near Catlett | 5 cfs | → |
| Po River Near Spotsylvania | 4 cfs | → |
| Rappahannock River At Remington | 136 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Starkweather Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 639 1302, Stafford County
- Elys Ford Road Spotsylvania County
- Elys Ford Road 10615, Fredericksburg
- Friendship Landing Road 4701, Charles County
- Doves Trail Prince William County
- Sinclair Lane Prince William 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 Starkweather 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 Starkweather Dam
Where does the data for Starkweather 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 Starkweather Dam.