John Lawrence Dam dam
John Lawrence Dam
John Lawrence Dam, located in Bath, Virginia, is a privately owned structure designed by Balzer and Associates for water supply purposes. Standing at a height of 36.2 feet with a length of 230 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 1050 acre-feet and serves as a vital resource for the surrounding area. It is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
With a primary purpose of water supply, the John Lawrence Dam also offers recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy. Situated on the Indian Draft stream, the dam not only provides essential water resources but also supports outdoor activities in the area. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam's condition is assessed as satisfactory as of July 2017, with regular inspections conducted to ensure its ongoing safety and functionality.
As a key infrastructure for water management in the region, John Lawrence Dam plays a crucial role in maintaining water supply and supporting recreational activities. Its design and construction reflect the importance of sustainable water resource management, while its regulatory oversight ensures the safety of the surrounding community. With its combination of practical utility and recreational value, the dam stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate-conscious infrastructure development.
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 John Lawrence Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Calfpasture River Above Mill Creek At Goshen | 22 cfs | → |
| Bullpasture River At Williamsville | 32 cfs | → |
| Back Creek At Sunrise | 16 cfs | → |
| Jackson River Near Bacova | 25 cfs | → |
| Maury River At Rockbridge Baths | 56 cfs | → |
| Back Creek Near Mountain Grove | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near John Lawrence Dam.
Boat launches
- Walton Tract Canoe Access Point
- Douthat State Park Road Bath County
- Walter Robinson Canoe Access Point
- Lake Sherwood Road Greenbrier County
- Botetourt Road Botetourt County
- Jackson River Canoe Access Points
Campgrounds
- Camp Nimrod
- Pmi Site 1
- Hidden Valley Recreation Area
- Site 1 - West Lake
- Site 3 - Glenmont Hills
- Pmi Site 2
Fishing spots
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Segment B--Northern Boundary, Hidden Valley Tract To Southern Boundary Of Hidden Valley Tract
- Ford Where Route 609 Departs From Route 678 To Confluence With Cowpasture River
- Segment C--Southern Boundary Hidden Valley Tract To Mcclintic Bridge
- Segment B--Confluence With Bullpasture River To Route 42 Bridge
- Segment B--Pump Storage Lake To Blowing Springs Campground
- Segment A--State Route 39 At Blowing Springs Campground To Lake Moomaw
Track John Lawrence 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 John Lawrence Dam
Where does the data for John Lawrence 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 Significant 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 John Lawrence Dam.