Lake Isaac Dam dam
Lake Isaac Dam
Lake Isaac Dam, located in Frederick, Virginia, is a privately owned structure that serves as a recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Situated on Isaacs Creek, this earth dam stands at 39 feet high and stretches 393 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 424 acre-feet. Despite its impressive size, the dam is classified as having a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition, as of the last inspection in July 2020.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Lake Isaac Dam is regulated and inspected by the state of Virginia to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, offering visitors a serene environment for activities such as boating, fishing, and wildlife observation. With a surface area of 20 acres and a drainage area of 2.85 square miles, the dam provides a valuable resource for both locals and tourists to enjoy.
While the dam has not undergone any significant modifications or improvements in recent years, its emergency action plan is up to date, with a satisfactory risk assessment in place. Despite its high hazard potential, Lake Isaac Dam continues to stand as a reliable and well-maintained structure, reflecting the commitment to safety and preservation of water resources in the region. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam represents a harmonious blend of recreation and conservation efforts in the heart of Virginia.
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 Isaac Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hogue Creek Near Hayfield | 2 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Winchester | 19 cfs | → |
| Opequon Creek Near Berryville | 14 cfs | → |
| Dry Marsh Run Near Berryville | 4 cfs | → |
| Potomac River At Paw Paw | 791 cfs | → |
| South Branch Potomac River Near Springfield | 241 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Isaac Dam.
Boat launches
- Springfield Pike Hampshire County
- Berkeley County
- Strasburg Trail Strasburg
- Bonds Landing Road Allegany County
- Sleepy Creek Road Berkeley County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Little Orleans
Campgrounds
- Log Cabin Campground
- Hawk
- Hawk Recreation Area
- Hawk Campground
- Liberty Root Campsite 2
- Short Mountain Wma
Fishing spots
- Orchard Pond
- Battie Mixon Ponds
- Town Creek
- Fifteenmile Creek
- White Sulphur Pond
- Sideling Hill Creek Put And Take Area
Paddle runs
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
- Begins South Of Largent To The Confluence With The Potomac At Great Cacapon
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- Wardensville To The Town Of Capon Bridge
- Begins Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River To Wardensville
- The West Virginia 259 Bridge South Of Wardensville To Ends Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River
Track Lake Isaac 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 Isaac Dam
Where does the data for Lake Isaac 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 Isaac Dam.