Upper Godfrey Dam dam
Upper Godfrey Dam
Upper Godfrey Dam, located in Loudoun, Virginia, along the North Fork Catoctin Creek, serves as a crucial water supply structure in the region. This privately owned dam stands at a height of 10 feet with a length of 519 feet, providing a storage capacity of 69.2 acre-feet for water resources. The dam is state-regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, ensuring regular inspections and enforcement to maintain its structural integrity and water supply function.
Although the hazard potential and condition assessment of Upper Godfrey Dam are currently undetermined and not rated, its primary purpose for water supply underscores its significance in the region's water resource management. With a normal storage capacity of 14.5 acre-feet and a surface area of 10.4 acres, the dam plays a vital role in providing water for various needs while also offering recreational opportunities and environmental benefits to the surrounding area. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the regulation and management of dams like Upper Godfrey become increasingly important for sustainable water conservation and climate resilience efforts.
As enthusiasts in water resources and climate, understanding the infrastructure and regulatory framework of dams like Upper Godfrey Dam can shed light on the interconnectedness of water management and climate adaptation. With state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place, the dam serves as a critical asset for water supply while also highlighting the need for ongoing risk assessment, emergency preparedness, and sustainable management practices in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water demands.
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 Upper Godfrey Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N F Catoctin Creek At Rt 681 Near Waterford | 5 cfs | → |
| S F Catoctin Creek At Rt 698 Near Waterford | 4 cfs | → |
| Shenandoah River At Millville | 660 cfs | → |
| N F Goose Creek At Rt 729 Near Lincoln | 8 cfs | → |
| Catoctin Creek At Taylorstown | 15 cfs | → |
| Piney Run Near Lovettsville | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Godfrey Dam.
Boat launches
- Shannondale Springs Road 199, Jefferson County
- Bloomery Road 742, Jefferson County
- River Haven Drive Jefferson County
- Petersville Road Brunswick
- South Maple Avenue 105, Brunswick
- Smart's Mill Rd (Private) Leesburg
Campgrounds
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
- 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 Upper Godfrey 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 Upper Godfrey Dam
Where does the data for Upper Godfrey 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 Upper Godfrey Dam.