Luray dam
Luray
Luray is a captivating hydroelectric dam located on the South Fork Shenandoah River in Virginia, specifically in Rileyville. Built in 1927, this buttress dam stands at a height of 21.9 feet and serves a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. With a normal storage capacity of 880 acre-feet and a surface area of 126 acres, Luray plays a vital role in the region's water resource management.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Luray has a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment. Its uncontrolled spillway has a width of 525 feet, ensuring efficient water release during times of excess flow. Despite not being state-regulated, Luray undergoes regular inspections every three years to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficiency. The dam's location in Page, Virginia, adds to its significance as a key component of the region's water infrastructure.
With its historical significance and ongoing contribution to hydroelectric power generation, Luray stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data on Luray provides insight into the importance of sustainable infrastructure development and the critical role that dams play in meeting both energy needs and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Luray -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| S F Shenandoah River Near Luray | 443 cfs | → |
| Smith Creek Near New Market | 24 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River At Mount Jackson | 88 cfs | → |
| Linville Creek At Broadway | 7 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River At Cootes Store | 34 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River Near Strasburg | 118 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Luray .
Boat launches
- Bixlers Ferry Rd Page County
- Page County
- Us 340 Business Page County
- South Page Valley Road Page County
- Seekford Boat Launch
- Grove Hill River Road Page County
Campgrounds
- Camp Roosevelt
- Camp Roosevelt Campground
- Camp Roosevelt Recreation Area
- Big Meadows - Shenandoah National Park
- Range View Cabin
- Mathews Arm - Shenandoah National Park
Fishing spots
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Moody Boat Launch
- Batzell Boat Launch
- White Sulphur Pond
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- Wardensville To The Town Of Capon Bridge
More reservoirs
Track Luray 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 Luray
Where does the data for Luray 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 Luray .