Lower Wallace Dam dam
Lower Wallace Dam
Lower Wallace Dam, located in Augusta County, Virginia, is a privately owned earth dam on Poor Creek with a primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a height of 23 feet and a length of 450 feet, the dam has a normal storage capacity of 64 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 160 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment as of July 2012, the dam is regulated and inspected by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Situated in a picturesque natural setting, Lower Wallace Dam provides opportunities for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. The dam's design and construction are in accordance with state permitting and inspection requirements, with the last inspection conducted in July 2012. Although the dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years, its emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk management measures are currently not specified, indicating a potential area for improvement in ensuring the safety and preparedness of the dam in case of emergencies.
As a key feature on Poor Creek, Lower Wallace Dam serves as a vital resource for both local residents and visitors, offering a tranquil escape and a hub for outdoor enthusiasts. With its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition, the dam presents a safe and enjoyable environment for recreational activities. However, ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts, including the development of an updated EAP and risk assessment, could further enhance the safety and resilience of this important water resource in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Lower Wallace Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South River Near Waynesboro | 30 cfs | → |
| South River Near Dooms | 91 cfs | → |
| Maury River At Rockbridge Baths | 56 cfs | → |
| Rockfish River Near Greenfield | 24 cfs | → |
| Calfpasture River Above Mill Creek At Goshen | 22 cfs | → |
| Kerrs Creek Near Lexington | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Wallace Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Headwaters South Of Flint Mountain To St. Mary's Wilderness Boundary
- Nf Boundary Along The South Fork Tye River Near Fdt 526 And State Highway 56 To Town Of Nash
- North River Campground To Camp May Flather
- Ford Where Route 609 Departs From Route 678 To Confluence With Cowpasture River
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
- Segment B--Confluence With Bullpasture River To Route 42 Bridge
Track Lower Wallace 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 Lower Wallace Dam
Where does the data for Lower Wallace 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 Low 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 Lower Wallace Dam.