Lake John Dam dam
Lake John Dam
Lake John Dam, located in Warren County, Virginia, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for irrigation purposes. The dam, standing at a height of 28 feet with a length of 335 feet, creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 235 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Molly Booth Run, within the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, ensuring regulatory oversight and periodic inspections to uphold safety standards.
Despite being classified as an Earth dam, Lake John Dam's hazard potential and condition assessment remain undetermined and not rated, respectively. The last inspection in 2014 indicated a satisfactory condition, but the lack of recent data raises questions about the current state of the structure. With a drainage area of 4.22 square miles and a surface area of 13 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
Enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate in the area should take note of Lake John Dam's significance in the local irrigation system and its role in supporting agricultural activities. As a privately owned structure subject to state regulation, understanding the dam's condition and maintenance practices is essential for ensuring its continued functionality and the safety of surrounding communities. Further assessment and monitoring of the dam's integrity are recommended to address any potential risks and maintain the resilience of this vital water management infrastructure in Warren County, Virginia.
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 Lake John Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Passage Creek Near Buckton | 15 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River Near Strasburg | 118 cfs | → |
| S F Shenandoah River At Front Royal | 478 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Winchester | 20 cfs | → |
| Spout Run At Rt 621 Near Millwood | 10 cfs | → |
| Hogue Creek Near Hayfield | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake John Dam.
Boat launches
- Strasburg Trail Strasburg
- Country Club Road Warren County
- Luray Avenue Front Royal
- Boat Ramp Warren County
- Misty Meadow Lane Warren County
- Seekford Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground
- Elizabeth Furnace
- Mudhole Gap Camping
- Shenandoah River - Guest State Park
- Little Crease Shelter
- Commercial Campground
Fishing spots
- White Sulphur Pond
- Batzell Boat Launch
- Moody Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- 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 C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- Wardensville To The Town Of Capon Bridge
Track Lake John 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 Lake John Dam
Where does the data for Lake John 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 Lake John Dam.