Brent L.West Dam dam
Brent L.West Dam
Brent L. West Dam, located in Bedford, Virginia, is a privately-owned earth dam standing at a height of 21.5 feet and stretching 300 feet in length. The dam boasts a storage capacity of 60.03 acre-feet and serves as a vital water resource in the region. Despite its undetermined hazard potential and lack of condition assessment rating, the dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, ensuring its safety and compliance with state guidelines.
This impressive structure plays a crucial role in water management, with a normal storage capacity of 41 acre-feet and a surface area of 6.3 acres. Although details about its construction year and risk management measures are not provided, it is clear that Brent L. West Dam is a significant feature in the local landscape. Its presence contributes to the conservation and regulation of water resources in the area, highlighting the importance of infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of climate change on water availability.
As a key component of the water infrastructure in Bedford, Virginia, Brent L. West Dam stands as a testament to the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams for the safety and security of surrounding communities. While its hazard potential remains undetermined, the dam's state-regulated status ensures that it is inspected, permitted, and enforced to meet necessary safety standards. With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, Brent L. West Dam plays a vital role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region, making it a crucial asset for water enthusiasts and climate advocates alike.
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 Brent L.West Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Otter River Near Evington | 218 cfs | → |
| Roanoke River At Altavista | 891 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek Near Huddleston | 40 cfs | → |
| Big Otter River Near Bedford | 53 cfs | → |
| Pigg River Near Sandy Level | 157 cfs | → |
| James River At Holcomb Rock | 1,250 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brent L.West Dam.
Boat launches
- Taylor Ford Road Pittsylvania County
- Pittsylvania Avenue Altavista
- State Park Road Bedford County
- Oak Hollow Road Bedford County
- Oak Grove Drive Franklin County
- Jefferson Dock Road Arrowhead
Campgrounds
- Camp Lowman
- Smith Mountain Lake
- Peaks Of Otter - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Peaks Of Otter Campground
- Hopper Creek Group Campground
- North Creek Campground
Paddle runs
- Top Of Apple Orchards Falls To Confluence Of North Creek With Jennings Creek
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
- Headwaters To Farmville
- Segment A--Route 42 Bridge To Confluence With Jackson River
- Nf Boundary Along The South Fork Tye River Near Fdt 526 And State Highway 56 To Town Of Nash
- Segment B--Confluence With Bullpasture River To Route 42 Bridge
Track Brent L.West 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 Brent L.West Dam
Where does the data for Brent L.West 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 Brent L.West Dam.