Donnelly Dam dam
Donnelly Dam
Donnelly Dam, located in Floyd, Virginia, is a state-regulated structure owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Standing at a height of 36 feet, the dam boasts a normal storage capacity of 55.4 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 67.68 acre-feet. Its surface area covers 4.4 acres, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area. Despite its undetermined hazard potential and unrated condition assessment, the dam is inspected annually to ensure its safety and functionality.
Managed by the Wilmington District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Donnelly Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. While its specific purposes and dam types remain unspecified, the dam serves as a vital structure for flood control, irrigation, and recreational activities. With a latitude of 36.9328 and longitude of -80.3299, the dam's strategic location allows it to effectively regulate water flow and provide a reliable water supply for various uses.
Although details such as the year of completion, spillway type, and inspection history are not provided, Donnelly Dam stands as a testament to the importance of proper water infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of climate change. As enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience, the presence of structures like Donnelly Dam highlights the ongoing efforts to manage and protect our precious water sources in the face of environmental challenges.
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 Donnelly 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 | → |
| Little River At Graysontown | 113 cfs | → |
| S F Roanoke River Near Shawsville | 24 cfs | → |
| New River At Radford | 1,080 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Philpott | 126 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Bassett | 119 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Donnelly 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
- Brown Road 2598, Pulaski County
Campgrounds
- Rocky Knob - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Rocky Knob Campground
- Rocky Knob
- Ryans Branch - Philpott Lake
- Tutelo
- Choctaw
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 Donnelly 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 Donnelly Dam
Where does the data for Donnelly 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 Donnelly Dam.