Nelson Dam dam
Nelson Dam
Nelson Dam, also known as Lake Nelson Dam, is a state-owned structure located in Nelson, Virginia, along the TR-BOBS CREEK. This earth dam stands at a height of 42 feet and spans 738 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 920 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Nelson Dam is for recreation, offering a surface area of 40.4 acres for water activities.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Nelson Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state of Virginia. The dam has a significant hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition, with the last inspection conducted in March 2020. While emergency action plans have been prepared, they have not been updated recently, posing a potential risk.
Situated in a picturesque setting, Nelson Dam provides essential recreational opportunities while also serving as a critical infrastructure for water resource management in the area. With its impressive storage capacity and state regulatory oversight, the dam ensures both safety and enjoyment for water resource and climate enthusiasts visiting the region.
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 Nelson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tye River Near Lovingston | 72 cfs | → |
| Piney River At Piney River | 49 cfs | → |
| James River At Bent Creek | 826 cfs | → |
| Rockfish River Near Greenfield | 41 cfs | → |
| Pedlar River At Forest Road Near Buena Vista | 43 cfs | → |
| James River At Scottsville | 1,600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nelson Dam.
Boat launches
- Nelson County
- James River Road Nelson County
- Richmond Highway Appomattox County
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
- Monacan Park Road 1354, Amherst County
- State Park Road 2618, Appomattox County
Campgrounds
- James River State Park
- Sherando Lake
- Sherando Lake Recreation Area
- Oronoco
- Holliday Lake State Park
- Hiker Camping
Fishing spots
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Nf Boundary Along The South Fork Tye River Near Fdt 526 And State Highway 56 To Town Of Nash
- Headwaters To Farmville
- Headwaters South Of Flint Mountain To St. Mary's Wilderness Boundary
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
- Top Of Apple Orchards Falls To Confluence Of North Creek With Jennings Creek
- North River Campground To Camp May Flather
Track Nelson 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 Nelson Dam
Where does the data for Nelson 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 Nelson Dam.