Upper Clinch Valley Dam #1b dam
Upper Clinch Valley Dam #1b
Upper Clinch Valley Dam #1b, also known as Cavitts Creek Dam, is a critical infrastructure owned by the local government in Tazewell, Virginia. This earth dam, standing at a height of 75.5 feet, serves primarily for flood risk reduction, with additional purposes including recreation and water supply. The dam has a storage capacity of 2,320 acre-feet, providing essential protection to the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Located on Cavitts Creek, this dam plays a vital role in maintaining water levels and ensuring the safety of the community. With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of October 2020, the dam is regularly inspected and regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia. Despite being completed at an unknown year, Upper Clinch Valley Dam #1b continues to serve its purpose effectively, showcasing the importance of proper maintenance and management of water resources in the face of climate challenges.
The dam's strategic position and design allow for effective flood control measures, contributing to the overall water resource management in the region. With a significant drainage area of 2.57 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 931 acre-feet, the dam provides vital protection to the community. As a key element in the area's flood risk reduction infrastructure, Upper Clinch Valley Dam #1b stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Upper Clinch Valley Dam #1b -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bluestone River At Falls Mills | 32 cfs | → |
| Tug Fork At Welch | 99 cfs | → |
| Dry Fork At Beartown | 83 cfs | → |
| N F Holston River Near Saltville | 94 cfs | → |
| M F Holston River At Seven Mile Ford | 81 cfs | → |
| Panther Creek Near Panther | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Clinch Valley Dam #1b.
Boat launches
- Russell County
- River Road 558, Saltville
- North Fork River Road Washington County
- County Road 641 Russell County
- Shepard Hollow Road Russell County
Campgrounds
- Laurel Creek Campsite
- Hungry Mother State Park
- Stony Fork Campground
- Stony Fork Cabin
- Stony Fork
- Rural Retreat Lake
Paddle runs
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
- Green Cove--Jefferson Nf Near Confluence Of Star Hill Branch To Confluence With Whitetop Laurel
- The U.S. Route 460 Bridge In Glen Lyn, Virginia To The Maximum Summer Pool Elevation Of Bluestone Lake, South Of Hinton, West Virginia
- Confluence Of White Branch With Russell Fork (And 1 Mile Upstream On Pound River) To Railroad Bridge Crossing Above Elkhorn City
- Bluestone Dam To Gauley Bridge
- Bluestone Dam To Sandstone
Track Upper Clinch Valley Dam #1b 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 Upper Clinch Valley Dam #1b
Where does the data for Upper Clinch Valley Dam #1b 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 High 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 Upper Clinch Valley Dam #1b.