Fox Lake Dam dam
Fox Lake Dam
Fox Lake Dam, located in Fairfax, Virginia, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Standing at 33 feet high and spanning 450 feet in length, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes with a storage capacity of 108 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-Difficult Run river, the dam's hazard potential is classified as low, and its condition assessment is deemed satisfactory as of the last inspection in July 2020.
Despite its low hazard potential, Fox Lake Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for the local community while also serving as a water resource management structure. With a surface area of 7 acres and a drainage area of 0.17 square miles, the dam contributes to the conservation and utilization of water resources in the region. Furthermore, its satisfactory condition and regular inspections ensure its continued functionality and safety for both recreational and water management purposes.
In the event of an emergency, it is essential for the owners of Fox Lake Dam to have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, although the last revision of the plan dates back to April 2013. With proper risk assessment and management measures, the dam can continue to serve its intended purposes while mitigating potential hazards. As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like Fox Lake Dam play a vital role in ensuring water security and recreational opportunities for the community.
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 Fox Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Difficult Run Near Great Falls | 11 cfs | → |
| Long Branch Near Annandale | 1 cfs | → |
| Accotink Creek Near Annandale | 3 cfs | → |
| Potomac River Near Wash | 2,160 cfs | → |
| Broad Run Near Leesburg | 18 cfs | → |
| Cameron Run At Alexandria | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fox Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Potomac Hills Street Fairfax County
- Rileys Lock Road Darnestown
- Ashburn Village Boulevard 20585, Lansdowne
- Forest Hill Road Lake Ridge
- Wayne F Anderson Bikeway Alexandria
- Sinclair Lane Prince William County
Campgrounds
- Lake Fairfax
- Marsden Tract Group Campsite
- Marsden Tract Campground
- Burke Lake Park
- Bull Run Regional Park
- Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campsite
Fishing spots
- Gillam Branch (Historical)
- Washington Aqueduct
- Davis Branch (Historical)
- Dalecarlia Reservoir
- Maddox Branch
- Georgetown Reservoir
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
Track Fox 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 Fox Lake Dam
Where does the data for Fox 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 Fox Lake Dam.