Franklin Racey Dam dam
Franklin Racey Dam
Franklin Racey Dam, located in Frederick, Virginia, is a privately-owned structure regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Standing at a height of 31 feet and with a length of 300 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 28.15 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 20.5 acre-feet. Despite its undetermined hazard potential and a condition assessment that is not rated, the dam has not been inspected in recent years, indicating a potential need for further evaluation and maintenance.
Situated within the Baltimore District, Franklin Racey Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. With a surface area of 1.9 acres, the dam serves as a vital infrastructure for flood control and water supply. As a significant feature in the local landscape, the dam's condition and safety measures are essential for ensuring the protection of surrounding communities and ecosystems, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and risk assessments.
While the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk management measures remain unclear, the presence of emergency contacts and inundation maps prepared could indicate a readiness for potential hazards. As climate change continues to pose challenges to water resource management, Franklin Racey Dam's role in safeguarding against floods and ensuring water availability underscores the need for proactive maintenance and monitoring to enhance resilience in the face of evolving environmental pressures.
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 Franklin Racey 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 | 18 cfs | → |
| Opequon Creek Near Berryville | 17 cfs | → |
| Dry Marsh Run Near Berryville | 4 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River Near Strasburg | 112 cfs | → |
| Passage Creek Near Buckton | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Franklin Racey Dam.
Boat launches
- Strasburg Trail Strasburg
- Country Club Road Warren County
- Luray Avenue Front Royal
- Harry Byrd Highway Clarke County
- River Haven Drive Jefferson County
- Boat Ramp Warren County
Campgrounds
- Hawk
- Hawk Recreation Area
- Hawk Campground
- Log Cabin Campground
- Liberty Root Campsite 2
- Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
- 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
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
Track Franklin Racey 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 Franklin Racey Dam
Where does the data for Franklin Racey 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 Franklin Racey Dam.