Lake Nice Dam dam
Lake Nice Dam
Lake Nice Dam in James City, Virginia, is a private earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Located on a tributary to France Swamp Creek, this dam stands at a height of 35 feet and has a length of 500 feet, creating a storage capacity of 446 acre-feet. With a normal storage capacity of 301 acre-feet and a surface area of 14.8 acres, Lake Nice Dam provides a picturesque setting for outdoor activities and water sports.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, this dam is state-regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the condition assessment of Lake Nice Dam is deemed satisfactory as of the last inspection in August 2017. The dam has an emergency action plan in place, although it was last revised in 2004, indicating a need for updated emergency preparedness measures.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Nice Dam offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of human infrastructure and natural environments. With its recreational focus and connection to a local waterway, this dam serves as both a leisure destination and a critical component of water management in the region. As efforts continue to monitor and maintain the dam's safety, it remains an important feature in the landscape of James City, 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 Nice Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chickahominy River Near Providence Forge | 21 cfs | → |
| Dragon Swamp At Mascot | 13 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Dendron | 1 cfs | → |
| Totopotomoy Creek Near Studley | 2 cfs | → |
| Piscataway Creek Near Tappahannock | 13 cfs | → |
| Appomattox River At Matoaca | 126 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Nice Dam.
Boat launches
- Cappahosic Road Gloucester County
- Charles City County
- Glass Island Road West Point
- Jamestown Road 1826, James City County
- ,
- Waterfence Road 1504, King And Queen County
Track Lake Nice 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 Nice Dam
Where does the data for Lake Nice 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 Significant 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 Nice Dam.