Oliver Dam dam
Oliver Dam
Oliver Dam, located in Loudoun, Virginia, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreation purposes. Standing at a height of 43.83 feet, the dam holds a storage capacity of 337 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 14.6 acres. Situated on the TR-North Fork Goose Creek, this earth-type dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, ensuring state permitting, inspection, and enforcement are in place to maintain its integrity.
Despite its recreational focus, Oliver Dam poses a significant hazard potential, although its condition assessment remains unrated as of the last inspection in July 2013. With a designated emergency action plan (EAP) last revised in December 2014, the dam's risk management measures and readiness for potential inundation events are not clearly outlined. While the dam has not undergone modifications in recent years, its location within the Baltimore District and under the jurisdiction of Jennifer Wexton (D) highlights the need for ongoing monitoring and risk assessment to safeguard the surrounding community and water resources.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Oliver Dam a fascinating structure to study, given its unique blend of recreational purpose, regulatory oversight, and potential risk factors. As a privately owned entity in Virginia, the dam's association with the North Fork Goose Creek offers opportunities for research on environmental impacts, hydrological dynamics, and emergency preparedness strategies. With its significant hazard potential and lack of recent condition assessments, Oliver Dam presents a case study for balancing recreational benefits with safety considerations in the realm of water resource management and climate resilience.
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 Oliver Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N F Goose Creek At Rt 729 Near Lincoln | 8 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek At Rt 734 Near Mountville | 5 cfs | → |
| S F Catoctin Creek At Rt 698 Near Waterford | 4 cfs | → |
| N F Catoctin Creek At Rt 681 Near Waterford | 5 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek Near Middleburg | 16 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek Near Leesburg | 46 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oliver Dam.
Boat launches
- River Haven Drive Jefferson County
- Harry Byrd Highway Clarke County
- Shannondale Springs Road 199, Jefferson County
- Bloomery Road 742, Jefferson County
- Smart's Mill Rd (Private) Leesburg
- Edwards Ferry Road Montgomery County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Potomac River Reservoir
- Culler Lake
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal
- Washington Aqueduct
- Dalecarlia Reservoir
- Gillam Branch (Historical)
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
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
Track Oliver 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 Oliver Dam
Where does the data for Oliver 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 Oliver Dam.