Shorter Dam dam
Shorter Dam
Shorter Dam in Pittsylvania, Virginia, is a private dam regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Standing at a height of 29 feet and with a length of 290 feet, this earth dam controls an unnamed tributary to the Sandy River. It has a storage capacity of 58 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 4.3 acres. Despite its undetermined hazard potential and not being rated for condition assessment, Shorter Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
The dam, completed in an unspecified year, serves various purposes such as water storage and flood control. Located at a latitude of 36.776 and longitude of -79.6284, it is monitored by state agencies for inspection, permitting, and enforcement. While the dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment remain unclear, its presence underscores the importance of infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of climate change on water resources. Water resource and climate enthusiasts would find Shorter Dam an intriguing case study in the intersection of environmental policy, engineering, and public safety.
As water resources face increasing stress from climate change, understanding the management and regulation of structures like Shorter Dam is crucial for sustainable development. With a capacity to store 58 acre-feet of water, this private dam in Virginia not only provides essential services but also poses potential risks that need to be carefully monitored and managed. By exploring the complexities of Shorter Dam, enthusiasts can gain insights into the challenges and opportunities in safeguarding water resources in the face of a changing climate.
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 Shorter Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sandy River Near Danville | 32 cfs | → |
| Pigg River Near Sandy Level | 157 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Martinsville | 283 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Eden | 668 cfs | → |
| Dan River At Stp Near Danville | 498 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Bassett | 153 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shorter Dam.
Boat launches
- Jefferson Dock Road Arrowhead
- Dudley Amos Road Franklin County
- South Fieldcrest Road Draper Village
- Bethlehem Church Road 587, Eden
- State Park Road Bedford County
- Oak Grove Drive Franklin County
Campgrounds
- Goose Dam
- Smith Mountain Lake
- Salthouse Branch - Philpott Lake
- Goose Point - Philpott Lake
- Jamison Mill Park - Philpott Lake
- Horseshoe Point - Philpott Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Shorter 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 Shorter Dam
Where does the data for Shorter 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 Undetermined 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 Shorter Dam.