Samuel Walker Dam dam
Samuel Walker Dam
Samuel Walker Dam, located in Albemarle, Virginia, stands as a vital water resource for the community, serving primarily for recreational purposes. This private dam, with a height of 25 feet and a length of 490 feet, controls the flow of the tributary Biscuit Run. Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the dam is regulated, permitted, and inspected by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with environmental standards.
Although the condition assessment of Samuel Walker Dam is currently not rated, its hazard potential is considered undetermined. Despite this, the dam provides a storage capacity of 56 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 5 acres, contributing to the overall water management system in the region. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures are yet to be determined, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to safeguard against potential risks and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
With its strategic location and essential role in water management, Samuel Walker Dam remains a key infrastructure for water resource and climate enthusiasts. As efforts continue to assess and address any potential risks associated with the dam, its significance in providing recreational opportunities and supporting the local ecosystem underscores the importance of sustainable water management practices in safeguarding this valuable resource for future generations.
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 Samuel Walker Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mechums River Near White Hall | 27 cfs | → |
| Moormans River Near Free Union | 38 cfs | → |
| Hardware River Bl Briery Run Nr Scottsville | 23 cfs | → |
| James River At Scottsville | 1,600 cfs | → |
| N F Rivanna River Near Earlysville | 72 cfs | → |
| Rockfish River Near Greenfield | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Samuel Walker Dam.
Boat launches
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
- River Anne Palmyra
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
- Nelson County
- James River Road Nelson County
Campgrounds
- Girl Scout Camp
- Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
- Loft Mountain Campground
- Hiker Camping
- Dundo
- Sherando Lake Recreation Area
Fishing spots
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- Nf Boundary Along The South Fork Tye River Near Fdt 526 And State Highway 56 To Town Of Nash
- Headwaters South Of Flint Mountain To St. Mary's Wilderness Boundary
- North River Campground To Camp May Flather
- Headwaters To Farmville
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
Track Samuel Walker 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 Samuel Walker Dam
Where does the data for Samuel Walker 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 Samuel Walker Dam.