Philpott Dam dam
Philpott Dam
Philpott Dam, located in Virginia, is a crucial structure built by the US Army Corps of Engineers to reduce flood risks along the Smith River. Completed in 1953, this gravity dam stands at a height of 220 feet and has a storage capacity of 318,300 acre-feet. While the dam has performed well over the past 70 years, there are concerns about its ability to withstand extremely rare flood events due to concrete expansion issues. In the event of a catastrophic failure, floodwaters could reach as high as 30 feet in nearby areas, causing significant damage and posing a threat to residents downstream.
To manage these risks, the US Army Corps of Engineers closely monitors weather forecasts and stream gauges to predict inflow and outflow. They work in collaboration with the National Weather Service and other agencies to prepare for emergency response efforts and provide timely information to local emergency managers. Regular inspections and risk assessments are conducted, and plans for an advanced risk assessment study are in place to further mitigate potential hazards. The Emergency Action Plan has been updated, additional instrumentation installed, and monitoring frequency increased to enhance the dam's safety measures and response capabilities in case of an emergency.
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 Philpott Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith River Near Philpott | 126 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Bassett | 119 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Martinsville | 170 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Smith Riv Church Nr Woolwine | 12 cfs | → |
| North Mayo River Near Spencer | 33 cfs | → |
| South Mayo River Near Nettleridge | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Philpott Dam.
Boat launches
- Us Bus 220 Boat Access Stoneville
- Bethlehem Church Road 587, Eden
- Jefferson Dock Road Arrowhead
- South Fieldcrest Road Draper Village
- Dudley Amos Road Franklin County
Campgrounds
- Salthouse Branch - Philpott Lake
- Goose Point - Philpott Lake
- Horseshoe Point - Philpott Lake
- Fairy Stone State Park
- Jamison Mill Park - Philpott Lake
- Ryans Branch - Philpott Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Jefferson Nf Boundary (Above Cascades Fall) To Jefferson Nf Boundary (Below Cascades Fall)
- Jefferson Nf Boundary Near Confluence With Nettle Hollow To Confluence With Laurel Branch
More reservoirs
Track Philpott 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 Philpott Dam
Where does the data for Philpott 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 Philpott Dam.