Collins Dam dam
Collins Dam
Collins Dam, located in Caroline, Virginia, is a private dam primarily used for recreation on Doctors Creek. Standing at a height of 15 feet, it offers a storage capacity of 316 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 65 acres. While the dam's hazard potential is currently undetermined and its condition has not been rated, it is regulated and inspected by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
The dam, constructed with an earth type design, serves as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts looking for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife watching. Despite lacking a designated completion year and detailed specifications on its spillway type and discharge capacity, Collins Dam remains a key feature in the local landscape, providing both residents and visitors with opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of Doctors Creek. With its serene surroundings and potential for various outdoor activities, the dam stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of water resources and recreational pursuits in the region.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and ecosystems, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Collins Dam become increasingly crucial. While its emergency action plan status and risk assessment details are currently unspecified, ongoing inspections and regulatory oversight ensure that the dam remains a safe and sustainable feature for the community. As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the intersection of recreation and conservation, Collins Dam represents a valuable asset in balancing the preservation of natural habitats with the enjoyment of outdoor activities in Caroline, Virginia.
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 Collins Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mattaponi River Near Beulahville | 50 cfs | → |
| Mattaponi River Near Bowling Green | 16 cfs | → |
| North Anna River At Hart Corner Near Doswell | 53 cfs | → |
| Pamunkey River Near Hanover | 105 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Doswell | 7 cfs | → |
| South Anna River Near Ashland | 52 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Collins Dam.
Track Collins 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 Collins Dam
Where does the data for Collins 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 Collins Dam.