Kings Park West Section 18 Dam dam
Kings Park West Section 18 Dam
Located in Fairfax, Virginia, the Kings Park West Section 18 Dam stands as a critical piece of infrastructure designed for flood risk reduction. Constructed in 1976, this earth dam boasts a height of 25.6 feet and offers a storage capacity of 70.9 acre-feet. Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, this dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its structural integrity and overall safety.
With a hazard potential classified as significant, the Kings Park West Section 18 Dam has undergone regular inspections, with the most recent assessment conducted in August 2020, deeming its condition as satisfactory. The dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events, highlighting its importance in water resource management and climate resilience efforts. As a local government-owned structure, it serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts between state and federal agencies to safeguard communities from natural disasters.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Kings Park West Section 18 Dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of infrastructure, regulatory oversight, and environmental protection. Its role in flood risk reduction underscores the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams to mitigate potential hazards and safeguard communities against the impacts of extreme weather events. As climate change continues to pose challenges to water management systems, the Kings Park West Section 18 Dam stands as a symbol of proactive measures taken to ensure the resilience and sustainability of water resources in the face of a changing climate.
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 Kings Park West Section 18 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Long Branch Near Annandale | 52 cfs | → |
| Accotink Creek Near Annandale | 411 cfs | → |
| Cameron Run At Alexandria | 610 cfs | → |
| Difficult Run Near Great Falls | 149 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Run At Alexandria | 278 cfs | → |
| Potomac River Near Wash | 3,010 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kings Park West Section 18 Dam.
Boat launches
- Forest Hill Road Lake Ridge
- Sinclair Lane Prince William County
- Doves Trail Prince William County
- Wayne F Anderson Bikeway Alexandria
- Ludgate Drive Mount Vernon
- Marshall Hall Boat Ramp Charles County
Campgrounds
- Burke Lake Park
- Bull Run Regional Park
- Lake Fairfax
- Fort Belvoir Travel And Rv Camp
- Pohick Bay Regional Park
- Marsden Tract Campground
Fishing spots
- Maddox Branch
- Davis Branch (Historical)
- Gillam Branch (Historical)
- Georgetown Reservoir
- Washington Aqueduct
- Dalecarlia Reservoir
Track Kings Park West Section 18 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 Kings Park West Section 18 Dam
Where does the data for Kings Park West Section 18 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 Significant 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 Kings Park West Section 18 Dam.