Preddy Creek Road dam
Preddy Creek Road
Preddy Creek Road in Albemarle, Virginia, is home to a vital flood risk reduction structure that serves the purpose of protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding. This privately-owned earth dam stands at a height of 26 feet and spans 500 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 149 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 1.4 square miles and a surface area of 7.9 acres, this structure plays a crucial role in managing water flow and mitigating flood risks in the region.
Managed and regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, Preddy Creek Road dam is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. While the hazard potential and condition assessment of the dam are currently classified as undetermined and not rated, respectively, its importance in flood risk reduction cannot be understated. Additionally, the dam serves a dual purpose of providing recreational opportunities in the area, further highlighting its significance in water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
Located along a tributary of Priddy Creek and falling under the jurisdiction of the Baltimore District, Preddy Creek Road dam remains a critical infrastructure ensuring the safety and well-being of the local community. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the role of such structures in flood risk reduction and environmental conservation is essential in promoting sustainable practices and resilience in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Preddy Creek Road -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N F Rivanna River Near Earlysville | 8 cfs | → |
| Rapidan River Near Ruckersville | 56 cfs | → |
| Moormans River Near Free Union | 3 cfs | → |
| Mechums River Near White Hall | 8 cfs | → |
| Robinson River Near Locust Dale | 26 cfs | → |
| Rivanna River At Palmyra | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Preddy Creek Road.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Preddy Creek Road
Where does the data for Preddy Creek Road 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 below 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.
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.