Brooks Dam dam
Brooks Dam
Brooks Dam, located in Franklin, Virginia, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet with a length of 320 feet, providing a storage capacity of 32 acre-feet. The dam has a normal storage level of 23.8 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 2.7 acres.
Despite its undetermined hazard potential and unrated condition assessment, Brooks Dam is subject to regular inspections by the state regulatory agency. The dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, posing a potential risk in case of emergencies. The structure's risk assessment, management measures, and inundation maps have yet to be determined, highlighting the need for comprehensive safety protocols and emergency preparedness.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts monitoring Brooks Dam should advocate for the implementation of an EAP and the development of risk assessment and management measures. With its location in Norfolk District and the oversight of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, ensuring the safety and integrity of Brooks Dam is crucial for protecting the surrounding community and the local water resources. Collaboration between stakeholders and regulatory agencies is essential to address any potential risks associated with the dam and enhance its overall safety standards.
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 Brooks Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River Near Rocky Mount | 49 cfs | → |
| Pigg River Near Sandy Level | 157 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek Near Huddleston | 40 cfs | → |
| Back Creek Near Dundee | 49 cfs | → |
| Roanoke River At Niagara | 205 cfs | → |
| Roanoke River At Roanoke | 77 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brooks Dam.
Boat launches
- Dudley Amos Road Franklin County
- Jefferson Dock Road Arrowhead
- Oak Grove Drive Franklin County
- State Park Road Bedford County
- Oak Hollow Road Bedford County
- Hardy Road Bedford County
Campgrounds
- Smith Mountain Lake
- Goose Dam
- Roanoke Mtn
- Roanoke Mountain - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Camp Lowman
- Jamison Mill Park - Philpott Lake
Fishing spots
- Baker Branch
- Blackies Branch
- Buck Island Creek
- After Bay Reservoir
- Belews Lake
- Cherokee Flats Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Top Of Apple Orchards Falls To Confluence Of North Creek With Jennings Creek
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
- 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
- Segment A--Route 42 Bridge To Confluence With Jackson River
More reservoirs
Track Brooks 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 Brooks Dam
Where does the data for Brooks 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 Brooks Dam.