Buchanan Dam #2 dam
Buchanan Dam #2
Buchanan Dam #2 in Buchanan, Virginia is a state-regulated dam with a height of 25 feet and a storage capacity of 34.1 acre-feet. This earth dam, completed at an unspecified date, serves an undetermined primary purpose and has not been rated for its condition. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Despite being classified as having an undetermined hazard potential and condition assessment, Buchanan Dam #2 remains an integral part of water resource management in the area. Located within Congressional District 09 of Virginia, this dam plays a crucial role in providing a reliable water supply and managing the flow of water in the region. With a surface area of 3 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 34.1 acre-feet, the dam's significance in water resource and climate resilience cannot be understated.
As a structure that impacts the local environment and community, Buchanan Dam #2 is subject to regular inspections and emergency preparedness protocols. While its risk assessment and management measures are currently not specified, efforts are made to ensure the dam's safety and readiness in case of emergencies. With its strategic location and vital role in water management, this dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource practices in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Buchanan Dam #2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Russell Fork At Haysi | 467 cfs | → |
| Levisa Fork At Big Rock | 96 cfs | → |
| Russell Fork At Bartlick | 1,060 cfs | → |
| Pound River Below Flannagan Dam Near Haysi | 26 cfs | → |
| Grapevine Creek Near Phyllis | 3 cfs | → |
| Cranes Nest River Near Clintwood | 22 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buchanan Dam #2.
Boat launches
- Lick Creek Pike County
- Shepard Hollow Road Russell County
- County Road 641 Russell County
- Hidden Valley Road Washington County
- Russell County
Campgrounds
- Breaks Interstate Park
- Lower Twin Branch - John W. Flannagan Reservoir
- Cranesnest - John W. Flannagan Reservoir
- Pound River - John W. Flannagan Reservoir
- Grapevine - Fishtrap Lake
- Mullins Pond Campsite
Paddle runs
- Confluence Of White Branch With Russell Fork (And 1 Mile Upstream On Pound River) To Railroad Bridge Crossing Above Elkhorn City
- State Route 72 Bridge To Confluence With Clinch River
- Confluence With Guest River To Confluence With Little Stony Creek
- Fs Route 700 To Confluence With Clinch River
- Headwaters To Alternative Route 58
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
Track Buchanan Dam #2 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 Buchanan Dam #2
Where does the data for Buchanan Dam #2 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 Buchanan Dam #2.