Daniel Mcdowell Dam dam
Daniel Mcdowell Dam
Daniel Mcdowell Dam in Virginia is a privately owned structure regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. With a height of 19 feet and a length of 550 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 104.2 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 65.54 acre-feet. Situated in Frederick County, the dam has a surface area of 11.3 acres and is located within the Pittsburgh District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite being classified as "Undetermined" in terms of hazard potential and "Not Rated" in condition assessment, the dam has undergone state permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes. However, details on its construction year, spillway type, and emergency action plan readiness are currently unavailable. The dam's location along with its storage capacity and regulatory oversight make it an important asset for water resource management in the region.
Enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate change will find Daniel Mcdowell Dam a significant structure to monitor and study. With its strategic location and state-regulated status, the dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water supply management in Virginia. Further research and evaluation of its risk assessment, emergency preparedness, and overall condition could provide valuable insights for sustainable water resource management practices in the area.
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 Daniel Mcdowell 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 | → |
| N F Shenandoah River Near Strasburg | 107 cfs | → |
| Waites Run Near Wardensville | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Daniel Mcdowell Dam.
Boat launches
- Strasburg Trail Strasburg
- Country Club Road Warren County
- Springfield Pike Hampshire County
- Berkeley County
- Luray Avenue Front Royal
- Sleepy Creek Road Berkeley County
Campgrounds
- Hawk
- Hawk Recreation Area
- Hawk Campground
- Log Cabin Campground
- Liberty Root Campsite 2
- Short Mountain Wma
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- Wardensville To The Town Of Capon 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
- Begins Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River To Wardensville
Track Daniel Mcdowell 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 Daniel Mcdowell Dam
Where does the data for Daniel Mcdowell 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 Daniel Mcdowell Dam.