Skiffes Creek Dam dam
Skiffes Creek Dam
Skiffes Creek Dam in Virginia is a vital piece of infrastructure owned by a public utility, serving as a key water supply source in James City County. The dam, primarily designed for water supply purposes, stands at 16 feet high and stretches 500 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 1108 acre-feet. Its location on the Skiffes Creek river tributary ensures a steady water supply for the surrounding area, covering a surface area of 98.3 acres and draining a 6.29 square mile watershed.
Despite its importance, Skiffes Creek Dam is currently classified as having a low hazard potential but a poor condition assessment, highlighting the need for ongoing maintenance and potential improvements. The dam is regulated by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and functionality. With a last inspection date in December 2020, efforts are being made to monitor and address any issues to protect both the dam and the community it serves.
As a crucial water resource and climate infrastructure, Skiffes Creek Dam plays a significant role in providing water supply and recreational opportunities while also requiring careful oversight and maintenance to uphold its safety and functionality. With its location in a heavily populated area, continued monitoring and potential upgrades are essential to ensure the dam's long-term sustainability and ability to meet the needs of the surrounding community.
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 Skiffes Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River Near Dendron | 2 cfs | → |
| Dragon Swamp At Mascot | 13 cfs | → |
| Chickahominy River Near Providence Forge | 24 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Franklin | 18 cfs | → |
| Nottoway River Near Sebrell | 118 cfs | → |
| Totopotomoy Creek Near Studley | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Skiffes Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Campsite Drive 606, Lee Hall
- Denbigh Boulevard 3, Newport News
- Greate Road Gloucester Point
- Old Wormley Creek Road 1199, York County
- Oriana Road Burts
- Tide Mill Road 711, York County
Track Skiffes Creek 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 Skiffes Creek Dam
Where does the data for Skiffes Creek 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 Skiffes Creek Dam.