Bethany Dam dam
Bethany Dam
Bethany Dam, located in Louisa, Virginia, is a crucial water resource managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This earth dam stands at a height of 23 feet, offering a storage capacity of 99 acre-feet for the tributary Hawkins Creek. While the primary purpose of the dam is recreation, its state-regulated status ensures that it undergoes regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to guarantee safety and efficiency in its operations.
Despite its undetermined hazard potential and unrated condition assessment, Bethany Dam remains a valuable asset for water management in Virginia. The dam's design and construction fall under the jurisdiction of the Baltimore District, reflecting a commitment to ensuring its structural integrity and functionality. With a length of 500 feet and a hydraulic height matching its structural height, the dam serves as a essential feature in the local landscape, offering recreational opportunities while fulfilling its water storage and management role.
Managed by state regulatory agencies and owned by unspecified entities, Bethany Dam stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management in the face of climate change. While its exact construction date and modification history remain unclear, the dam's presence underscores the need for ongoing risk assessment and management measures to protect surrounding communities and ecosystems. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, staying informed about infrastructure such as Bethany Dam is crucial for understanding the complex interplay between human activity, natural resources, and environmental sustainability.
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 Bethany Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Anna River Near Partlow | 57 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Doswell | 39 cfs | → |
| South Anna River Near Ashland | 42 cfs | → |
| North Anna River At Hart Corner Near Doswell | 103 cfs | → |
| Po River Near Spotsylvania | 10 cfs | → |
| Fine Creek At Fine Creek Mills | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bethany Dam.
Track Bethany 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 Bethany Dam
Where does the data for Bethany 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 Bethany Dam.