Sunlight Prop Dam dam
Sunlight Prop Dam
Sunlight Prop Dam, located in Warren, Virginia, is a privately owned structure that is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This dam stands at a height of 17 feet and has a storage capacity of 66.91 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 42.71 acre-feet. With a length of 265 feet and a surface area of 7.91 acres, Sunlight Prop Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its undetermined hazard potential and lack of a condition rating, Sunlight Prop Dam is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality. While the dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment details are yet to be determined, the structure meets state regulatory requirements for permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With its location in the Norfolk District and oversight by the Virginia state agency, Sunlight Prop Dam serves as a vital component in the water management infrastructure of the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sunlight Prop Dam presents an intriguing case study in private ownership and state regulation of critical water infrastructure. With its modest dimensions but significant storage capacity, this dam exemplifies the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures to ensure the safety and sustainability of water resources in the region. As efforts continue to assess and manage the potential risks associated with the dam, its role in water management and conservation remains paramount in the ongoing dialogue around sustainable water resource management and climate resilience.
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 Sunlight Prop Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| S F Shenandoah River At Front Royal | 507 cfs | → |
| Passage Creek Near Buckton | 14 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River Near Strasburg | 118 cfs | → |
| Battle Run Near Laurel Mills | 6 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Winchester | 26 cfs | → |
| S F Shenandoah River Near Luray | 443 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sunlight Prop Dam.
Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Warren County
- Misty Meadow Lane Warren County
- Luray Avenue Front Royal
- Seekford Boat Launch
- Country Club Road Warren County
- South Page Valley Road Page County
Campgrounds
- Shenandoah River - Guest State Park
- Commercial Campground
- Mathews Arm Campground
- Mathews Arm
- Mathews Arm - Shenandoah National Park
- Range View Cabin
Fishing spots
- Batzell Boat Launch
- Moody Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- White Sulphur Pond
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- Wardensville To The Town Of Capon Bridge
Track Sunlight Prop 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 Sunlight Prop Dam
Where does the data for Sunlight Prop 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 Sunlight Prop Dam.