Benzinger Dam dam
Benzinger Dam
Benzinger Dam, located in Culpeper, Virginia, is a privately owned structure primarily used for irrigation purposes along the TR-Jonas Creek. The dam stands at 20 feet in height and stretches 300 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 138 acre-feet. It is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, ensuring state inspection, enforcement, and permitting processes are in place to maintain its integrity and safety.
Despite its undetermined hazard potential and not yet rated condition assessment, Benzinger Dam serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area. With a normal storage capacity of 48 acre-feet and a history of being used for both irrigation and recreation, the dam plays a significant role in water management and conservation efforts in the region. Its strategic location and design as an earth dam make it a key piece of infrastructure for ensuring water security and sustainability in Culpeper, Virginia.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Benzinger Dam presents an intriguing case study in the intricacies of managing and maintaining a vital piece of infrastructure for both irrigation and recreational purposes. With a rich history and a robust regulatory framework in place, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of responsible water management in the face of changing climate conditions. Its role in providing water security and supporting local ecosystems makes it a valuable asset worth studying and protecting for future generations.
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 Benzinger Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hazel River At Rixeyville | 54 cfs | → |
| Rappahannock River At Remington | 126 cfs | → |
| Rapidan River Near Culpeper | 102 cfs | → |
| Battle Run Near Laurel Mills | 4 cfs | → |
| Robinson River Near Locust Dale | 43 cfs | → |
| Cedar Run Near Catlett | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Benzinger Dam.
Boat launches
- Rogues Road Fauquier County
- Elys Ford Road 10615, Fredericksburg
- Elys Ford Road Spotsylvania County
- Southlake Drive 9505, Spotsylvania County
- Doves Trail Prince William County
- Sinclair Lane Prince William County
Campgrounds
- Range View Cabin
- Mathews Arm - Shenandoah National Park
- Mathews Arm
- Mathews Arm Campground
- Big Meadows - Shenandoah National Park
- Mosby Campground
Fishing spots
- Moody Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Batzell Boat Launch
- White Sulphur Pond
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- Wardensville To The Town Of Capon Bridge
More reservoirs
Track Benzinger 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 Benzinger Dam
Where does the data for Benzinger 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 Benzinger Dam.