Shenandoah dam
Shenandoah
Shenandoah Dam, located in Page, Virginia, is a gravity-type structure completed in 1925 for hydroelectric purposes on the South Fork Shenandoah River. With a height of 15 feet and a length of 584 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 1200 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 107,000 cubic feet per second. The dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, with inspections conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure its safety and compliance.
Despite being owned by a public utility, Shenandoah Dam is not state-regulated, inspected, or permitted. The dam's spillway, with a width of 495 feet, is uncontrolled, and the structure is classified as a multi-arch dam with a foundation on rock. The dam's surrounding area covers 85 acres and drains a 1250-acre watershed. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, an Emergency Action Plan was last revised in November 2020 to ensure preparedness for any potential risks or emergencies.
Overall, Shenandoah Dam plays a crucial role in generating hydroelectric power and managing water resources in Virginia. Its strategic location on the South Fork Shenandoah River, paired with a capacity for 1200 acre-feet of water storage, highlights its importance in the region's energy infrastructure. With a focus on safety and risk management, the dam continues to be a key asset in the state's water resource management efforts.
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 Shenandoah -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| S F Shenandoah River Near Luray | 369 cfs | → |
| Linville Creek At Broadway | 5 cfs | → |
| S F Shenandoah River Near Lynnwood | 265 cfs | → |
| Smith Creek Near New Market | 18 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River At Cootes Store | 129 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Mount Clinton | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shenandoah .
Boat launches
- Grove Hill River Road Page County
- Us 340 Business Page County
- Lake Shenandoah Trail Rockingham County
- Bixlers Ferry Rd Page County
- Page County
- South Page Valley Road Page County
Campgrounds
- Camp Site
- Boone Shelter
- Lewis Mountain Campground
- Lewis Mountain
- Lewis Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
- Big Meadows - Shenandoah National Park
Fishing spots
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
- Moody Boat Launch
- Batzell Boat Launch
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- North River Campground To Camp May Flather
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- The West Virginia 259 Bridge South Of Wardensville To Ends Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River
More reservoirs
Track Shenandoah 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 Shenandoah
Where does the data for Shenandoah 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 Shenandoah .