Burke Lake Dam dam
Burke Lake Dam
Burke Lake Dam, located in Fairfax, Virginia, is a state-regulated structure with a primary purpose of recreation. This earth-type dam stands at a height of 49.5 feet, with a NID height of 50 feet and a length of 1150 feet. The dam provides a storage capacity of 4589.4 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 223 acres, drawing water from the South Run river or stream.
With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of March 2020, Burke Lake Dam is subject to regular state inspection, enforcement, and permitting by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. While no specific year of completion is provided, its design and construction fall under state jurisdiction, ensuring its compliance with regulations and safety standards. The dam's emergency action plan may need updating, as the last revision was in 2011.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Burke Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study in dam safety and management. Its location, design, and purpose for recreation make it a vital part of the local ecosystem and water infrastructure. Monitoring its condition, inspection frequency, and hazard potential can provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing water resource management in 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 Burke Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Long Branch Near Annandale | 1 cfs | → |
| Accotink Creek Near Annandale | 3 cfs | → |
| Cameron Run At Alexandria | 6 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Run At Alexandria | 3 cfs | → |
| S F Quantico Creek Near Independent Hill | 0 cfs | → |
| Difficult Run Near Great Falls | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burke Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Forest Hill Road Lake Ridge
- Sinclair Lane Prince William County
- Doves Trail Prince William County
- Ludgate Drive Mount Vernon
- Marshall Hall Boat Ramp Charles County
- Wayne F Anderson Bikeway Alexandria
Campgrounds
- Burke Lake Park
- Pohick Bay Regional Park
- Fort Belvoir Travel And Rv Camp
- Bull Run Regional Park
- Prince William Forest Rv Campground
- Cabin Camp 1
Fishing spots
- Piscataway Creek
- Maddox Branch
- Georgetown Reservoir
- Davis Branch (Historical)
- Boundary Channel
- Foundry Branch
Track Burke 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 Burke Lake Dam
Where does the data for Burke 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 High 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 Burke Lake Dam.