Grant Lake Dam dam
Grant Lake Dam
Grant Lake Dam, located in Spotsylvania, Virginia, is a privately owned structure designed by A. Morton Thomas and Associates, Inc. This earth dam, with a height of 29.1 feet and a length of 430 feet, serves primarily for recreational purposes along the Widow Tapp Spring. The dam has a storage capacity of 226.2 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 145 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 7.22 acres and draining a 0.64 square mile watershed.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, Grant Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and is in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in May 2021. Regular inspections are conducted, with the most recent one taking place in May 2021, to ensure its safety and structural integrity. While the dam does not have a spillway or outlet gates, it meets state regulatory standards and is equipped for recreational use, providing a serene environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
Grant Lake Dam, situated in a picturesque setting in Virginia, is a vital structure for both water management and recreational activities. With its impressive design and efficient operation, the dam offers a safe and enjoyable environment for visitors to appreciate the beauty of nature while also serving as a crucial element in the region's water resource and climate management efforts. As a low-hazard structure with a strong safety record, Grant Lake Dam stands as a testament to the responsible management of water resources for the benefit of both the environment and the community.
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 Grant Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rappahannock River Near Fredericksburg | 213 cfs | → |
| Po River Near Spotsylvania | 4 cfs | → |
| Rapidan River Near Culpeper | 99 cfs | → |
| Rappahannock River At Remington | 136 cfs | → |
| Robinson River Near Locust Dale | 43 cfs | → |
| North Anna River Near Partlow | 46 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grant Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Elys Ford Road 10615, Fredericksburg
- Elys Ford Road Spotsylvania County
- Southlake Drive 9505, Spotsylvania County
- County Road 639 1302, Stafford County
- Rogues Road Fauquier County
- Old Wharf Road King George County
Campgrounds
- Lake Anna State Park
- Christopher Run Campground
- Lunga Park Military - Quantico Mcb
- Campsite #6
- Champs Rv Military - A P Hill
- Oak Ridge - Prince William Forest Park
Fishing spots
- Piscataway Creek
- Hatton Creek
- Moody Boat Launch
- Wheatley Reservoir
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
Track Grant Lake 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 Grant Lake Dam
Where does the data for Grant Lake 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 Low 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 Grant Lake Dam.