Upper North River #77 dam
Upper North River #77
Upper North River #77, also known as Hearthstone Lake Dam, is a vital structure in Augusta, Virginia, owned by the local government for flood risk reduction. Designed by Schnabel Engineering Associates, this earth dam stands at a height of 107.3 feet and has a storage capacity of 2970 acre-feet. Situated on the Little River, this dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, Upper North River #77 has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed as satisfactory in condition. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 150 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 12.3 acres, serving a drainage area of 15.8 square miles. With regular inspections and enforcement measures in place, this dam is a key component in the region's water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
With its strategic location and design, Upper North River #77 stands as a testament to effective flood risk reduction infrastructure in Virginia. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of structures like this dam in protecting communities and ecosystems from the threats of extreme weather events cannot be overstated. As enthusiasts in water resource and climate management, understanding the significance of dams like Upper North River #77 is crucial for advancing sustainable practices and resilience in the face of a changing climate.
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 Upper North River #77 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North River Near Stokesville | 2 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Mount Clinton | 1 cfs | → |
| North River Near Burketown | 105 cfs | → |
| So Fk So Br Potomac R At Brandywine | 10 cfs | → |
| Middle River Near Grottoes | 76 cfs | → |
| South Branch Potomac River At Franklin | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper North River #77.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Todd Lake Recreation Area
- North River Campground
- Hone Quarry Campground
- Brandywine Recreation Area
- Brandywine Campground
- Shaws Fork Equestrian Campground
Fishing spots
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
- Dry Fork
Paddle runs
- North River Campground To Camp May Flather
- Ford Where Route 609 Departs From Route 678 To Confluence With Cowpasture River
- Trussel Run To Run North Of Judy Springs
- Canyon Exit To Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks Nra Boundary
- Run North Of Judy Springs To Private Land
- Headwaters South Of Flint Mountain To St. Mary's Wilderness Boundary
Track Upper North River #77 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 Upper North River #77
Where does the data for Upper North River #77 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 Upper North River #77.