John Moses Dam dam
John Moses Dam
John Moses Dam, located in Shenandoah, Virginia, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Standing at a height of 26.75 feet, this dam provides essential water storage with a capacity of 23.01 acre-feet. While the primary purpose of the dam is not specified, its normal storage capacity of 16.4 acre-feet is crucial for water resource management in the area.
Despite its undetermined hazard potential and lack of a condition assessment rating, John Moses Dam undergoes regular inspections with a frequency of one inspection per year. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures are not fully documented, indicating a need for further evaluation and preparedness. In the event of an emergency, the dam's emergency contacts and risk management measures may be subject to updates as necessary.
With its location in the Pittsburgh District and oversight by state regulatory agencies, including permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes, John Moses Dam plays a significant role in ensuring water resource sustainability in the region. As climate change impacts water availability and quality, the proper maintenance and management of dams like this one are critical for safeguarding water resources and mitigating potential risks to surrounding communities and ecosystems.
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 John Moses Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Waites Run Near Wardensville | 5 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River Near Strasburg | 112 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Winchester | 18 cfs | → |
| Passage Creek Near Buckton | 13 cfs | → |
| S F Shenandoah River At Front Royal | 422 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River At Mount Jackson | 56 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near John Moses Dam.
Boat launches
- Strasburg Trail Strasburg
- Misty Meadow Lane Warren County
- Boat Ramp Warren County
- Kimsey Run Road Hardy County
- Seekford Boat Launch
- South Page Valley Road Page County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- White Sulphur Pond
- Batzell Boat Launch
- Moody Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Wardensville To The Town Of Capon Bridge
- Begins Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River To Wardensville
- The West Virginia 259 Bridge South Of Wardensville To Ends Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
More reservoirs
Track John Moses 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 John Moses Dam
Where does the data for John Moses 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 John Moses Dam.