South Rivanna dam
South Rivanna
South Rivanna, located in Albemarle, Virginia, is a gravity dam built in 1965 for hydroelectric purposes on the South Fork Rivanna river. With a height of 47 feet and a storage capacity of 38,600 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in the water resource management of the region. The dam has a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, making it an important structure to monitor and maintain for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, South Rivanna dam has a spillway width of 525 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 157,700 cubic feet per second. The dam's location in the Carrsbrook Subdivision and its proximity to the Baltimore District further highlight its significance in the local infrastructure. Despite not being state regulated, the dam's operational and safety measures are overseen by federal agencies, ensuring its compliance with industry standards and guidelines.
With its multi-arch design and rock foundation, South Rivanna dam stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity and environmental stewardship in harnessing hydropower resources. Its presence not only provides renewable energy but also supports flood control and water supply management in the area. As climate change intensifies, the role of such structures becomes increasingly vital in ensuring the resilience and sustainability of water resources 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 South Rivanna -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N F Rivanna River Near Earlysville | 72 cfs | → |
| Moormans River Near Free Union | 38 cfs | → |
| Mechums River Near White Hall | 27 cfs | → |
| Rapidan River Near Ruckersville | 72 cfs | → |
| Hardware River Bl Briery Run Nr Scottsville | 23 cfs | → |
| Rivanna River At Palmyra | 102 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Rivanna .
Boat launches
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
- River Anne Palmyra
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
- Lake Shenandoah Trail Rockingham County
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
- Columbia Road Columbia
Campgrounds
- Girl Scout Camp
- Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
- Loft Mountain Campground
- Dundo
- Lewis Mountain Campground
- Lewis Mountain
Fishing spots
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
- Moody Boat Launch
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
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
Track South Rivanna 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 South Rivanna
Where does the data for South Rivanna 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 High 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 South Rivanna .