James Dam dam
James Dam
James Dam, also known as James Pond Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Spotsylvania, Virginia, along the TR-NORTH ANNA RIVER. The dam, with a height of 22.5 feet and a length of 500 feet, serves primarily for recreational purposes. It has a storage capacity of 165 acre-feet and covers an area of 11 acres. The dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Although the hazard potential of James Dam is currently classified as "Undetermined" and its condition is "Not Rated" as of the last inspection in 2006, the dam continues to provide recreational opportunities for the local community. It is situated in close proximity to Abigail Davis Spanberger's congressional district and falls under the jurisdiction of the Baltimore District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. The dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and risk management measures are yet to be determined, suggesting a need for further evaluation and preparedness in case of emergencies.
As a vital part of the water resource infrastructure in Virginia, James Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational benefits while also serving as a potential area for future risk assessment and management. With its picturesque location and connection to the North Anna River, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures to ensure the safety and well-being of surrounding communities and the environment.
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 James Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Anna River Near Partlow | 57 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Doswell | 39 cfs | → |
| Po River Near Spotsylvania | 10 cfs | → |
| South Anna River Near Ashland | 42 cfs | → |
| Mattaponi River Near Bowling Green | 20 cfs | → |
| North Anna River At Hart Corner Near Doswell | 103 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near James Dam.
Boat launches
- Southlake Drive 9505, Spotsylvania County
- Mountain Road Hanover County
- Elys Ford Road Spotsylvania County
- Elys Ford Road 10615, Fredericksburg
- Powhatan State Park Road Powhatan County
- Bateau Landing Road 4399, Powhatan County
Campgrounds
Track James 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 James Dam
Where does the data for James 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 James Dam.