Rappahannock Dam #3 dam
Rappahannock Dam #3
Rappahannock Dam #3, located in Rappahannock, Virginia, is a state-regulated dam with a height of 28 feet and a storage capacity of 25.09 acre-feet. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. While the dam's hazard potential is currently undetermined and its condition has not been rated, it is important to note that the dam meets state guidelines and has emergency action plans in place.
Despite lacking specific information on the dam's purposes, type, and construction year, Rappahannock Dam #3 remains a significant water resource structure in the region. The dam's location along the Rappahannock River contributes to its importance in managing water flow and storage in the area. With a surface area of 2.1 acres and a normal storage capacity of 22.7 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
While further details on the dam's condition assessment, risk assessment, and management measures are currently unavailable, Rappahannock Dam #3 stands as a vital component of water infrastructure in Virginia. As a state-regulated dam with a storage capacity of 25.09 acre-feet, the dam serves as a key resource for water supply, flood control, and environmental conservation in the area. With its location in Rappahannock County and under the oversight of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the dam plays a crucial role in ensuring water resource sustainability and climate resilience in the region.
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 Rappahannock Dam #3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Battle Run Near Laurel Mills | 5 cfs | → |
| S F Shenandoah River At Front Royal | 478 cfs | → |
| Passage Creek Near Buckton | 15 cfs | → |
| Hazel River At Rixeyville | 78 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River Near Strasburg | 118 cfs | → |
| S F Shenandoah River Near Luray | 437 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rappahannock Dam #3.
Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Warren County
- Misty Meadow Lane Warren County
- Seekford Boat Launch
- South Page Valley Road Page County
- Luray Avenue Front Royal
- Page County
Campgrounds
- Mathews Arm - Shenandoah National Park
- Range View Cabin
- Mathews Arm Campground
- Mathews Arm
- Shenandoah River - Guest State Park
- Commercial Campground
Fishing spots
- Batzell Boat Launch
- Moody Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- White Sulphur Pond
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- 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
Track Rappahannock Dam #3 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 Rappahannock Dam #3
Where does the data for Rappahannock Dam #3 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 Rappahannock Dam #3.