Harrison Lake Dam dam
Harrison Lake Dam
Located in Charles City, Virginia, the Harrison Lake Dam, also known as Serafina Noelani, was completed in 1920 by the GEI design firm for the primary purpose of creating a Fish and Wildlife Pond. Owned and operated by the Fish and Wildlife Service, this earth dam stands at 17 feet tall and spans 975 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 843 acre-feet and a drainage area of 24 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition has been assessed as poor as of the last inspection in September 2012. The structure has undergone several modifications over the years, including hydraulic and structural upgrades in 1959, and further improvements in 1980, 1987, and 1987. The outlet gates consist of other controlled and slide mechanisms, with a maximum discharge capacity of 2,173 cubic feet per second.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the Harrison Lake Dam can appreciate its historical significance, engineering design, and ecological impact as a vital component in managing flood risk and supporting local fish and wildlife populations. The dam's association with the Fish and Wildlife Service underscores its importance in maintaining a delicate balance between human development and environmental conservation in the region.
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 Harrison Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chickahominy River Near Providence Forge | 27 cfs | → |
| Appomattox River At Matoaca | 121 cfs | → |
| Totopotomoy Creek Near Studley | 6 cfs | → |
| James River Near Richmond | 1,250 cfs | → |
| James River And Kanawha Canal Near Richmond | 137 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Dendron | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Harrison Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Deep Bottom Boat Ramp
- Osborne Park And Boat Landing
- Magazine Road 930, Petersburg
- Hanover Road Henrico County
- Charles City County
- Ancarrow's Landing
Track Harrison Lake 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 Harrison Lake Dam
Where does the data for Harrison Lake 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 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 Harrison Lake Dam.