Walker Mill Dam dam
Walker Mill Dam
Walker Mill Dam, located on the Rockfish River in Virginia, is a historic hydroelectric structure completed in 1910 with a primary purpose of generating electricity. This gravity dam stands at a height of 32 feet and has a hydraulic height of 30 feet, with a length of 150 feet. It has a normal storage capacity of 64 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 3600 cubic feet per second.
Although the dam has a low hazard potential, it undergoes periodic inspections by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure its safety and structural integrity. The last inspection was conducted in September 2015, with an inspection frequency of 3 years. The risk assessment for Walker Mill Dam is moderate, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to mitigate any potential issues.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be fascinated by the historical significance and engineering marvel of Walker Mill Dam, as well as its role in generating renewable energy from the flowing waters of the Rockfish River. With its unique design and location, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and regulating water infrastructure to ensure environmental sustainability and public safety 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 Walker Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rockfish River Near Greenfield | 41 cfs | → |
| James River At Scottsville | 1,600 cfs | → |
| Hardware River Bl Briery Run Nr Scottsville | 23 cfs | → |
| Tye River Near Lovingston | 72 cfs | → |
| Slate River Near Arvonia | 65 cfs | → |
| James River At Bent Creek | 826 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walker Mill Dam .
Boat launches
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
- Nelson County
- James River Road Nelson County
- Richmond Highway Appomattox County
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
Campgrounds
- James River State Park
- Sherando Lake
- Sherando Lake Recreation Area
- Hiker Camping
- Girl Scout Camp
- Holliday Lake State Park
Fishing spots
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Braley Pond 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 South Of Flint Mountain To St. Mary's Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters To Farmville
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
- North River Campground To Camp May Flather
- Top Of Apple Orchards Falls To Confluence Of North Creek With Jennings Creek
Track Walker Mill 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 Walker Mill Dam
Where does the data for Walker Mill 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 Low 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 Walker Mill Dam .