Lake Frederick Dam dam
Lake Frederick Dam
Lake Frederick Dam, also known as Wheatlands, is a state-owned earth dam located in Frederick, Virginia. With a height of 74 feet and a length of 680 feet, the dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a surface area of 91 acres and a normal storage capacity of 2410 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Crooked Run, within the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia.
Despite its fair condition assessment as of March 2020, Lake Frederick Dam poses a high hazard potential, requiring regular inspections and enforcement by state regulatory agencies. The dam has a storage capacity of 4300 acre-feet and plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. The dam's designer, Hurt & Proffitt, Inc., ensures that it meets all state permitting and inspection requirements, contributing to the overall safety and functionality of the structure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Frederick Dam presents a fascinating engineering feat in its design and construction. As a key component of the water infrastructure in Frederick, Virginia, the dam not only provides recreational opportunities but also plays a vital role in flood control and water storage. With its strategic location on Crooked Run and its significant storage capacity, Lake Frederick Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Frederick Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Passage Creek Near Buckton | 13 cfs | → |
| Spout Run At Rt 621 Near Millwood | 10 cfs | → |
| S F Shenandoah River At Front Royal | 478 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Winchester | 19 cfs | → |
| Opequon Creek Near Berryville | 15 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River Near Strasburg | 121 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Frederick Dam.
Boat launches
- Country Club Road Warren County
- Luray Avenue Front Royal
- Strasburg Trail Strasburg
- Harry Byrd Highway Clarke County
- Boat Ramp Warren County
- Misty Meadow Lane Warren County
Campgrounds
- Camp Slater
- Camp Washington
- Mosby Campground
- Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground
- Elizabeth Furnace
- Mudhole Gap Camping
Fishing spots
- White Sulphur Pond
- Batzell Boat Launch
- Moody Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Potomac River Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
Track Lake Frederick 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 Frederick Dam
Where does the data for Lake Frederick 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 Frederick Dam.