Gore Dam dam
Gore Dam
Located in Loudoun, Virginia, Gore Dam is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Designed by Echols Engineering, PLC, this earth dam stands at a height of 40 feet and has a length of 400 feet, creating a storage capacity of 162 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-Potomac River, this dam has a drainage area of 0.27 square miles and a surface area of 8 acres, offering a picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of December 2020, Gore Dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia. The dam's last inspection was conducted in December 2020, with an inspection frequency of once per year. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam meets safety guidelines and has an emergency action plan in place.
Recreationally valuable and environmentally significant, Gore Dam serves as both a leisure destination and an essential infrastructure for managing water resources in the region. Its tranquil surroundings and structural integrity make it a captivating site for visitors interested in both the engineering aspects and natural beauty of water resource management.
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 Gore Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Potomac River At Point Of Rocks | 2,470 cfs | → |
| Catoctin Creek At Taylorstown | 17 cfs | → |
| N F Catoctin Creek At Rt 681 Near Waterford | 4 cfs | → |
| S F Catoctin Creek At Rt 698 Near Waterford | 4 cfs | → |
| Limestone Branch Near Leesburg | 2 cfs | → |
| Bennett Creek At Park Mills | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gore Dam.
Boat launches
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Point Of Rocks
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Frederick County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Frederick County
- South Maple Avenue 105, Brunswick
- Petersville Road Brunswick
- Smart's Mill Rd (Private) Leesburg
Campgrounds
- Calico Rocks
- Calico Rocks Campsite
- Bald Eagle Island
- Bald Eagle Campsite
- Indiant Flats Campsite
- Brunswick City Campground
Fishing spots
- Culler Lake
- Potomac River Reservoir
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal
- Hunting Creek Lake
- Little Owens Creek
- Washington Aqueduct
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- Begins South Of Largent To The Confluence With The Potomac At Great Cacapon
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
Track Gore 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 Gore Dam
Where does the data for Gore 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 Gore Dam.