Lake Virginia Dam dam
Lake Virginia Dam
Lake Virginia Dam, located in Somervell, Texas, is a privately owned structure designed by R G BROWN in 1987. This earth dam stands at a height of 57 feet with a hydraulic height matching it, reaching a structural height of 68 feet. Serving purposes such as fire protection, stock, and recreation, the dam holds a normal storage capacity of 895 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 46.7 acres.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the dam overlooks the TR-Brazos River and is under state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With an uncontrolled spillway type and a spillway width of 130 feet, it has an associated drainage area of 1.29 square miles. The dam's condition is assessed as fair, with a moderate risk level, and its emergency action plan was last revised in February 2017.
Despite its relatively modest dimensions, Lake Virginia Dam plays a crucial role in providing fire protection and recreational opportunities in the region. Its strategic location and design elements make it a vital component of water resource management in Somervell, Texas, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in its structural details and operational significance.
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 Lake Virginia Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos Rv Nr Glen Rose | 385 cfs | → |
| Paluxy Rv At Glen Rose | 6 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Ds Lk Granbury Nr Granbury | 359 cfs | → |
| Nolan Rv At Blum | 47 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork Trinity Rv At Kelly Rd Nr Aledo | 19 cfs | → |
| N Bosque Rv At Hico | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Virginia Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 67 Somervell County
- Pr 21 North 2212, Cleburne
- Monticello Drive 8517, Granbury
- Hagler Road 3034-3098, Cleburne
- Coates Road 2200, Granbury
- U.S. 67 2374-2456, Cleburne
Campgrounds
- Dinosaur Valley State Park
- Hunter Park - Lake Granbury
- Thorp Spring - Lake Granbury
- Meridian State Park
- Site: 001, Loop: Mustang Non Site Specific
- Site: Gs, Loop: Mustang Point
Fishing spots
Track Lake Virginia 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 Lake Virginia Dam
Where does the data for Lake Virginia 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 Not Available 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 Lake Virginia Dam.