Lake Front Royal Dam dam
Lake Front Royal Dam
Lake Front Royal Dam, located in Warren, Virginia, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. With a primary purpose of recreation, this earth dam stands at a height of 26 feet and stretches 1400 feet across Sloan Creek, providing a surface area of 7.2 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 84 acre-feet. Despite its fair condition assessment in 2016, the dam poses a high hazard potential, necessitating regular inspections and maintenance to ensure public safety.
Although the dam's construction year is unspecified, its last inspection in October 2016 revealed a fair condition assessment. With a drainage area of 0.12 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 62 acre-feet, Lake Front Royal Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities while also managing water resources efficiently. The dam's association with Sloan Creek and its location within the Norfolk District highlight its significance in maintaining environmental balance and ensuring safe water management practices in the region.
As a key element in the local water infrastructure, Lake Front Royal Dam serves not only as a recreational site but also as a critical component in flood control and water storage. Its high hazard potential underscores the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to prevent any potential risks. With the Department of Conservation and Recreation overseeing its regulation and inspection, the dam continues to play a vital role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Warren, 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 Front Royal Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| S F Shenandoah River At Front Royal | 478 cfs | → |
| Passage Creek Near Buckton | 15 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River Near Strasburg | 118 cfs | → |
| Spout Run At Rt 621 Near Millwood | 10 cfs | → |
| Battle Run Near Laurel Mills | 5 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Winchester | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Front Royal Dam.
Boat launches
- Luray Avenue Front Royal
- Country Club Road Warren County
- Boat Ramp Warren County
- Misty Meadow Lane Warren County
- Strasburg Trail Strasburg
- Seekford Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Mosby Campground
- Shenandoah River - Guest State Park
- Commercial Campground
- Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground
- Elizabeth Furnace
- Mathews Arm Campground
Fishing spots
- Batzell Boat Launch
- Moody Boat Launch
- White Sulphur Pond
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- 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 Lake Front Royal 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 Front Royal Dam
Where does the data for Lake Front Royal 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 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 Lake Front Royal Dam.