Spring Valley Dam dam
Spring Valley Dam
Spring Valley Dam, located in Albemarle, Virginia, is a key water resource infrastructure managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This earth dam, standing at a height of 29 feet and spanning 430 feet in length, serves primarily for irrigation purposes along Perry Creek. With a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet and a surface area of 3.5 acres, the dam plays a vital role in ensuring water supply for agricultural activities in the region.
Despite its importance for irrigation, the condition assessment of Spring Valley Dam remains unrated, with an undetermined hazard potential. The dam has not been evaluated for emergency preparedness measures such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) or inundation maps. The structure also lacks a designated risk assessment and management plan, raising potential concerns for the safety and resilience of the dam in the face of climate change impacts and extreme weather events. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, there is a need to monitor and advocate for the proper maintenance and assessment of this critical infrastructure to ensure its long-term sustainability and safety.
With the dam falling under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and receiving state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement, stakeholders must work collaboratively to address the gaps in emergency preparedness and risk management at Spring Valley Dam. By engaging with local authorities and water resource agencies, enthusiasts can contribute to the development of comprehensive safety measures, emergency response plans, and risk mitigation strategies for the dam. Together, we can enhance the resilience of this essential water resource infrastructure in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Spring Valley Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rockfish River Near Greenfield | 24 cfs | → |
| South River Near Waynesboro | 30 cfs | → |
| South River Near Dooms | 91 cfs | → |
| Mechums River Near White Hall | 18 cfs | → |
| Moormans River Near Free Union | 11 cfs | → |
| James River At Scottsville | 1,750 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spring Valley Dam.
Boat launches
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
- Nelson County
- James River Road Nelson County
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
- River Anne Palmyra
- Richmond Highway Appomattox County
Campgrounds
- Hiker Camping
- Girl Scout Camp
- Sherando Lake Recreation Area
- Sherando Lake
- Dundo
- Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
Fishing spots
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
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
- Ford Where Route 609 Departs From Route 678 To Confluence With Cowpasture River
Track Spring Valley 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 Spring Valley Dam
Where does the data for Spring Valley 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 Spring Valley Dam.