Bish Dam dam
Bish Dam
Bish Dam in Virginia is a state-regulated structure designed for irrigation purposes, located in the Cumberland County. The dam is primarily used for irrigation and recreation, with a capacity of 67 acre-feet of water storage. Its construction type is earth, with a height of 20 feet and a hazard potential that is currently undetermined. While the condition of the dam has not been rated, it is subject to regular inspections by the state regulatory agency to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Owned by an unspecified entity, Bish Dam stands as a vital water management infrastructure in the region, serving the local agricultural community with irrigation water. The dam's location in the Norfolk District offers a strategic advantage for water resource management in the area. Despite its undetermined hazard potential, the dam's structural integrity and ability to store water play a crucial role in supporting sustainable water usage and recreational activities in the region.
With its precise geographical coordinates of 37.479 latitude and -78.294 longitude, Bish Dam represents a key component of Virginia's water infrastructure. As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like Bish Dam become increasingly important for ensuring water availability for irrigation and other purposes. As the state agency conducts regular inspections and enforcement measures, Bish Dam remains a vital asset for water resource management 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 Bish Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Appomattox River At Farmville | 80 cfs | → |
| Slate River Near Arvonia | 65 cfs | → |
| James River At Cartersville | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Near Hampden Sydney | 29 cfs | → |
| Holiday Creek Near Andersonville | 2 cfs | → |
| Appomattox River At Mattoax | 115 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bish Dam.
Boat launches
- Sandy River Reservoir Boat Ramp
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
- State Park Road 2618, Appomattox County
- Columbia Road Columbia
- Mill Quarter Road 1384, Powhatan
- Otter's Path Trail Prince Edward County
Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Lake State Park
- Twin Lakes State Park
- Holliday Lake State Park
- Westview On The James
- James River State Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Farmville
- Nf Boundary Along The South Fork Tye River Near Fdt 526 And State Highway 56 To Town Of Nash
More reservoirs
Track Bish 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 Bish Dam
Where does the data for Bish 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 Bish Dam.