Lower Spectacular Bid Drive Dam dam
Lower Spectacular Bid Drive Dam
Lower Spectacular Bid Drive Dam in Loudoun, Virginia, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Standing at a height of 25 feet and stretching over 546 feet in length, this dam holds a storage capacity of 61.2 acre-feet along the Limestone Branch tributary. Despite being regulated and inspected by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, its hazard potential and condition assessment remain undetermined and not rated, respectively.
While the dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment are unclear, its location within the Baltimore District under the representation of Jennifer Wexton (D) highlights its significance in water resource management and climate resilience efforts. With its recreational purpose and scenic surroundings, Lower Spectacular Bid Drive Dam serves as a valuable asset for water enthusiasts and environmental advocates alike. As its risk management measures and inundation maps are yet to be fully assessed, further attention and collaboration are essential to ensure its safety and sustainability in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Lower Spectacular Bid Drive Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Limestone Branch Near Leesburg | 2 cfs | → |
| S F Catoctin Creek At Rt 698 Near Waterford | 4 cfs | → |
| N F Catoctin Creek At Rt 681 Near Waterford | 5 cfs | → |
| Catoctin Creek At Taylorstown | 15 cfs | → |
| N F Goose Creek At Rt 729 Near Lincoln | 8 cfs | → |
| Potomac River At Point Of Rocks | 2,610 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Spectacular Bid Drive Dam.
Boat launches
- Smart's Mill Rd (Private) Leesburg
- Edwards Ferry Road Montgomery County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Point Of Rocks
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Frederick County
- Ashburn Village Boulevard 20585, Lansdowne
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Frederick County
Campgrounds
- Turtle Run
- Turtle Run Campsite
- Marble Quarry Hiker-Biker Campsite
- Marble Quarry
- Chisel Branch
- Chisel Branch Campsite
Fishing spots
- Culler Lake
- Potomac River Reservoir
- Washington Aqueduct
- Dalecarlia Reservoir
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal
- Gillam Branch (Historical)
Paddle runs
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- 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 Lower Spectacular Bid Drive 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 Lower Spectacular Bid Drive Dam
Where does the data for Lower Spectacular Bid Drive 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 Lower Spectacular Bid Drive Dam.