Brumback Dam dam
Brumback Dam
Brumback Dam, located in Franklin, Virginia, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 31 feet with a length of 290 feet, this earth dam provides a storage capacity of 31 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 20.9 acre-feet. The dam, managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with standards.
While the hazard potential of Brumback Dam is currently undetermined and its condition assessment is listed as "Not Rated," the dam is subject to regular inspections with a frequency of one inspection per year. Although the year of completion and other detailed information such as spillway type, drainage area, and maximum discharge are not provided, the dam's location within the Huntington District under the oversight of the federal government suggests a level of oversight and regulation that contributes to its overall safety and functionality. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Brumback Dam serves as an interesting case study in privately owned recreational dams and the importance of state regulatory agencies in managing and ensuring the safety of such structures.
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 Brumback Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith River Near Philpott | 126 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Bassett | 129 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Smith Riv Church Nr Woolwine | 10 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Rocky Mount | 36 cfs | → |
| S F Roanoke River Near Shawsville | 25 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Martinsville | 181 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brumback Dam.
Boat launches
- Dudley Amos Road Franklin County
- Hardy Road Bedford County
- Jefferson Dock Road Arrowhead
- Oak Grove Drive Franklin County
- Oak Hollow Road Bedford County
- State Park Road Bedford County
Campgrounds
- Ryans Branch - Philpott Lake
- Jamison Mill Park - Philpott Lake
- Horseshoe Point - Philpott Lake
- Salthouse Branch - Philpott Lake
- Goose Point - Philpott Lake
- Fairy Stone State Park
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
- Top Of Apple Orchards Falls To Confluence Of North Creek With Jennings Creek
- The U.S. Route 460 Bridge In Glen Lyn, Virginia To The Maximum Summer Pool Elevation Of Bluestone Lake, South Of Hinton, West Virginia
More reservoirs
Track Brumback 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 Brumback Dam
Where does the data for Brumback 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 Brumback Dam.