Thornhill Dam dam
Thornhill Dam
Thornhill Dam, located in Pulaski, Virginia, is a privately owned structure primarily used for irrigation purposes. The dam, with a height of 25 feet, provides a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet of water from TR-Bentleys Branch. While its specific construction date is not provided, the dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, ensuring proper inspection and enforcement measures are in place to maintain its integrity.
Despite being classified as an Earth dam with an undetermined hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," Thornhill Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. With a normal storage capacity of 30 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 80 acre-feet, the dam not only supports irrigation needs but also offers recreational opportunities for the community. The dam's location within the Wilmington District further emphasizes its significance in the overall water infrastructure of the area.
As enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate, Thornhill Dam provides a fascinating case study for understanding the intersection of private ownership, state regulation, and the critical role dams play in ensuring water availability for various purposes. The dam's presence highlights the importance of proper management and maintenance to safeguard against potential hazards and ensure sustainable water use in the face of changing climate conditions. With its unique characteristics and regulatory oversight, Thornhill Dam stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to balance water resource management with environmental conservation.
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 Thornhill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Reed Creek At Grahams Forge | 179 cfs | → |
| New River At Allisonia | 1,970 cfs | → |
| Walker Creek At Bane | 149 cfs | → |
| Wolf Creek Near Narrows | 248 cfs | → |
| New River At Radford | 2,130 cfs | → |
| Little River At Graysontown | 170 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thornhill Dam.
Boat launches
- Beach Drive 6833, Pulaski County
- Brown Road 2598, Pulaski County
- Hidden Valley Pulaski County
- Ben H. Bolen Drive 6620, Dublin
- Julia Simpkins Road 1711, Pulaski County
- Va 100 Wythe County
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- The U.S. Route 460 Bridge In Glen Lyn, Virginia To The Maximum Summer Pool Elevation Of Bluestone Lake, South Of Hinton, West Virginia
- Jefferson Nf Boundary (Above Cascades Fall) To Jefferson Nf Boundary (Below Cascades Fall)
- Jefferson Nf Boundary Near Confluence With Nettle Hollow To Confluence With Laurel Branch
- Bluestone Dam To Gauley Bridge
- Bluestone Dam To Sandstone
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
Track Thornhill 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 Thornhill Dam
Where does the data for Thornhill 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 Thornhill Dam.