Lake Serene Dam dam
Lake Serene Dam
Lake Serene Dam, also known as Butler Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Frederick, Virginia. This earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a serene setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. The dam stands at a height of 24 feet and has a length of 350 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 400 acre-feet. Babbs Run flows through this picturesque area, adding to the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Lake Serene Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state of Virginia. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently in satisfactory condition, as assessed in August 2019. Emergency action plans are in place, with the last revision in September 2020, ensuring the safety and preparedness of the surrounding community in case of unforeseen events. With its tranquil waters and lush surroundings, Lake Serene Dam is a haven for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking a peaceful retreat in nature.
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 Lake Serene Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hogue Creek Near Hayfield | 2 cfs | → |
| Dry Marsh Run Near Berryville | 4 cfs | → |
| Opequon Creek Near Berryville | 17 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Winchester | 18 cfs | → |
| Spout Run At Rt 621 Near Millwood | 10 cfs | → |
| Opequon Creek Near Martinsburg | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Serene Dam.
Boat launches
- Berkeley County
- Sleepy Creek Road Berkeley County
- Harry Byrd Highway Clarke County
- River Haven Drive Jefferson County
- Shannondale Springs Road 199, Jefferson County
- Bloomery Road 742, Jefferson County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal
- Potomac River Reservoir
- Orchard Pond
- Fifteenmile Creek
- Town Creek
- Battie Mixon Ponds
Paddle runs
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- Begins South Of Largent To The Confluence With The Potomac At Great Cacapon
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- Wardensville To The Town Of Capon Bridge
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
Track Lake Serene 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 Lake Serene Dam
Where does the data for Lake Serene 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 High 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 Lake Serene Dam.