Nottoway Falls Dam dam
Nottoway Falls Dam
Nottoway Falls Dam, also known as "The Falls," is a concrete structure located in Victoria, Virginia, owned by the local government. This dam serves a primary purpose of water supply and also supports recreational activities in the area. Standing at a height of 15 feet with a length of 187 feet, the dam creates a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 250 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 180 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 27.8 acres and draining a watershed area of 59.2 square miles.
Managed and regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, Nottoway Falls Dam has been assessed to have a significant hazard potential but is currently in fair condition based on the latest inspection in September 2020. The dam lacks certain safety features such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and inundation maps, which are crucial for risk assessment and management in case of emergencies. With a designated inspection frequency of once a year, the dam plays a critical role in water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
Located on the Nottoway River mainstem, Nottoway Falls Dam is a key infrastructure for ensuring a stable water supply while also providing opportunities for recreation. As climate change continues to impact water resources, it becomes increasingly important to monitor and maintain dams like Nottoway Falls to mitigate risks and ensure the safety and sustainability of water management systems in the area.
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 Nottoway Falls Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Meherrin River Near Lunenburg | 78 cfs | → |
| Nottoway River Near Rawlings | 33 cfs | → |
| Appomattox River At Farmville | 80 cfs | → |
| Deep Creek Near Mannboro | 15 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Near Hampden Sydney | 29 cfs | → |
| Allen Creek Near Boydton | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nottoway Falls Dam.
Track Nottoway Falls 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 Nottoway Falls Dam
Where does the data for Nottoway Falls 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 Nottoway Falls Dam.