Turner Dam dam
Turner Dam
Turner Dam, located in Buckingham, Virginia, is a state-regulated structure on TR-Bear Garden Creek with a primary purpose of recreation. The earth dam stands at 22 feet high and has a storage capacity of 81 acre-feet, making it an essential resource for water enthusiasts in the area. While the hazard potential of the dam is currently undetermined and its condition has not been rated, it is regularly inspected by the Department of Conservation and Recreation to ensure safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite lacking detailed information on construction and completion dates, Turner Dam remains a prominent feature in the Norfolk District, serving as a vital recreational area for locals and visitors alike. With a focus on providing water-based activities and fostering a connection to the natural environment, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and enhancing the climate resilience of the surrounding region. While there are no associated structures or specific design features listed, the dam's presence on Bear Garden Creek contributes to the overall ecological health and water management efforts in the area.
As a key component of the state's water infrastructure, Turner Dam serves as a hub for outdoor recreation and water resource management in Buckingham, Virginia. While factors such as condition assessment, emergency preparedness, and risk management measures are currently not rated or specified, the dam's significance in providing recreational opportunities and maintaining water storage capacity cannot be understated. With ongoing inspections and regulatory oversight, Turner Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices and the preservation of natural resources for future generations of water and climate enthusiasts.
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 Turner Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Slate River Near Arvonia | 65 cfs | → |
| James River At Scottsville | 1,600 cfs | → |
| Hardware River Bl Briery Run Nr Scottsville | 23 cfs | → |
| James River At Cartersville | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Rivanna River At Palmyra | 102 cfs | → |
| Holiday Creek Near Andersonville | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Turner Dam.
Boat launches
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
- Columbia Road Columbia
- River Anne Palmyra
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
- Nelson County
- James River Road Nelson County
Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Lake State Park
- Westview On The James
- Holliday Lake State Park
- James River State Park
- Twin Lakes State Park
Track Turner 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 Turner Dam
Where does the data for Turner 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 Turner Dam.