Burton Dam dam
Burton Dam
Burton Dam in Pittsylvania, Virginia, is a state-regulated earth dam standing at 33 feet high and spanning 185 feet in length. Built by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, this structure on Tomahawk Creek serves primarily for recreation purposes, offering a surface area of 73.2 acres and a storage capacity of 1450 acre-feet. Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, the dam has been inspected annually, with the most recent assessment conducted in April 2020.
Located in the Wilmington District, Burton Dam is overseen by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia. With a hazard potential rating of high, the dam poses a risk that is mitigated by regular inspections and maintenance measures. The dam's primary purpose of recreation draws enthusiasts to its scenic surroundings and ample storage for outdoor activities. Although there is room for improvement in terms of risk management strategies, Burton Dam remains a valuable water resource for the community and a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.
As a vital part of the region's water infrastructure, Burton Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts. With its significant storage capacity and recreational value, the dam serves as a key asset for the state of Virginia. Continued monitoring and maintenance will be essential to ensure the safety and functionality of Burton Dam for future generations to enjoy and benefit from its amenities.
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 Burton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pigg River Near Sandy Level | 157 cfs | → |
| Sandy River Near Danville | 32 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek Near Huddleston | 40 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Rocky Mount | 49 cfs | → |
| Roanoke River At Altavista | 891 cfs | → |
| Dan River At Stp Near Danville | 498 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burton Dam.
Boat launches
- Jefferson Dock Road Arrowhead
- Dudley Amos Road Franklin County
- State Park Road Bedford County
- Taylor Ford Road Pittsylvania County
- Oak Grove Drive Franklin County
- Oak Hollow Road Bedford County
Campgrounds
- Smith Mountain Lake
- Goose Dam
- Camp Lowman
- Salthouse Branch - Philpott Lake
- Jamison Mill Park - Philpott Lake
- Goose Point - Philpott Lake
Fishing spots
Track Burton 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 Burton Dam
Where does the data for Burton 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 High 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 Burton Dam.