Silver Lake Dam dam
Silver Lake Dam
Silver Lake Dam, located in Frederick, Virginia, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreation purposes. This earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans a length of 340 feet, with a storage capacity of 489 acre-feet. Situated on Parish Run, the dam is under the regulatory oversight of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, ensuring state permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols are met.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of December 2017, Silver Lake Dam is categorized as having a high hazard potential. With a drainage area of 7.37 square miles and a surface area of 22 acres, this dam presents a critical responsibility in managing water resources and climate impacts in the region. The last inspection in 2017 indicated a need for regular monitoring and adherence to emergency action plans to mitigate risks associated with its use.
As climate change continues to influence water resource management, Silver Lake Dam serves as a focal point for conservation efforts and sustainable infrastructure practices in response to evolving environmental conditions. With its role in providing recreational opportunities and water storage capacity, the dam's significance underscores the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding both the community and the natural ecosystem surrounding it.
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 Silver Lake 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 Silver Lake 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
- Country Club Road Warren County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal
- Orchard Pond
- Potomac River Reservoir
- 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 Silver Lake 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 Silver Lake Dam
Where does the data for Silver Lake 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 Silver Lake Dam.