Travis Lake Upper dam
Travis Lake Upper
Travis Lake Upper, also known as Upper Travis Lake, is a captivating water resource nestled in Caroline, Virginia, just outside the city of Port Royal. Managed by the US Army, this dam was completed in 1940 and serves a dual purpose of providing recreational opportunities as well as supporting fish and wildlife in the area. With a dam height of 8 feet and a length of 300 feet, this earth dam boasts a storage capacity of 174 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 22 acres.
The dam's spillway, controlled with a width of 25 feet, ensures efficient water discharge during high flow events. Despite its low hazard potential, Travis Lake Upper is regularly inspected every four years to ensure its structural integrity. While the risk assessment categorizes this dam as having a very high risk, measures for risk management are not currently specified. With its scenic location along the Goldenvale Creek Tr, Travis Lake Upper provides both a tranquil retreat for recreation enthusiasts and a vital habitat for local wildlife.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Travis Lake Upper to be a fascinating example of sustainable dam management in Virginia. From its humble beginnings as a recreation spot to its role in supporting local wildlife, this dam stands as a testament to the importance of responsible water resource management. Despite the potential risks associated with its operation, the US Army remains committed to ensuring the safety and integrity of Travis Lake Upper for future generations to enjoy.
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 Travis Lake Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mattaponi River Near Bowling Green | 13 cfs | → |
| Po River Near Spotsylvania | 4 cfs | → |
| Rappahannock River Near Fredericksburg | 228 cfs | → |
| Mattaponi River Near Beulahville | 44 cfs | → |
| North Anna River At Hart Corner Near Doswell | 48 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Doswell | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Travis Lake Upper.
Boat launches
- Old Wharf Road King George County
- Southlake Drive 9505, Spotsylvania County
- Elys Ford Road Spotsylvania County
- Friendship Landing Road 4701, Charles County
- County Road 639 1302, Stafford County
- Elys Ford Road 10615, Fredericksburg
Campgrounds
- Champs Rv Military - A P Hill
- Lunga Park Military - Quantico Mcb
- Lake Anna State Park
- Campsite #6
- Smallwood State Park Youth Group Campsite
- Campground 3
Fishing spots
Track Travis Lake Upper 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 Travis Lake Upper
Where does the data for Travis Lake Upper 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 Low 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 Travis Lake Upper.