Rakes Mill Dam dam
Rakes Mill Dam
Rakes Mill Dam in Floyd, Virginia, stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate considerations. With a height of 10 feet and a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet, this dam serves a primary purpose that goes beyond flood control or irrigation. While its dam type is classified as "Other" and its hazard potential is undetermined, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated, leaving room for further evaluation and potential enhancement.
Located in the Wilmington District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Rakes Mill Dam's structural integrity and risk management measures are yet to be fully assessed. Despite its unknown hazard potential, the dam's emergency action plan status, inundation maps, and risk assessment remain pending, suggesting a need for proactive monitoring and response strategies. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the intricacies of Rakes Mill Dam present an opportunity for exploration and advocacy in enhancing the resilience of infrastructure against the backdrop of evolving environmental challenges.
With Congressman H. Morgan Griffith representing the area, there is potential for increased attention and support towards the assessment and management of Rakes Mill Dam. As the data on the dam continues to be updated and refined, there is a growing opportunity for collaboration between federal agencies, local authorities, and community stakeholders to ensure the sustainable and effective utilization of this critical water resource infrastructure in Floyd, 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 Rakes Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith River At Smith Riv Church Nr Woolwine | 12 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Philpott | 126 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Bassett | 119 cfs | → |
| S F Roanoke River Near Shawsville | 24 cfs | → |
| Little River At Graysontown | 113 cfs | → |
| South Mayo River Near Nettleridge | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rakes Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Little River Dam Road Radford City
- Ben H. Bolen Drive 6620, Dublin
- Hidden Valley Pulaski County
- New River Drive Radford City
- Beach Drive 6833, Pulaski County
- Julia Simpkins Road 1711, Pulaski County
Campgrounds
- Rocky Knob - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Rocky Knob Campground
- Rocky Knob
- Ryans Branch - Philpott Lake
- Fairy Stone State Park
- Horseshoe Point - Philpott Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Jefferson Nf Boundary (Above Cascades Fall) To Jefferson Nf Boundary (Below Cascades Fall)
- Jefferson Nf Boundary Near Confluence With Nettle Hollow To Confluence With Laurel Branch
- The U.S. Route 460 Bridge In Glen Lyn, Virginia To The Maximum Summer Pool Elevation Of Bluestone Lake, South Of Hinton, West Virginia
Track Rakes Mill 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 Rakes Mill Dam
Where does the data for Rakes Mill 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 Rakes Mill Dam.