Cooley Dam dam
Cooley Dam
Cooley Dam is a privately owned structure located in Warren, Virginia, along the Molly Camel Run. It serves primarily for recreation purposes, with a dam type classified as Earth and a height of 30.43 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 61.12 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 50.93 acre-feet and a surface area of 4.52 acres. Despite being state-regulated and inspected, the hazard potential of Cooley Dam is rated as low, and its condition is currently not rated.
Constructed by an unknown entity, Cooley Dam stands at a length of 220 feet and has a hydraulic height matching its structural height of 30.43 feet. Although the exact year of completion is unspecified, the dam remains under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia. While no emergency action plan (EAP) or inundation maps have been prepared to date, the dam is considered to meet regulatory guidelines in terms of safety measures.
With its picturesque location and recreational purpose, Cooley Dam provides a tranquil setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate the beauty of the Molly Camel Run. Positioned within the Baltimore District, this dam offers a low-risk environment for visitors to enjoy various outdoor activities while maintaining a safe and regulated water resource for 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 Cooley Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Passage Creek Near Buckton | 13 cfs | → |
| S F Shenandoah River At Front Royal | 422 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River Near Strasburg | 112 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Winchester | 18 cfs | → |
| Spout Run At Rt 621 Near Millwood | 10 cfs | → |
| Opequon Creek Near Berryville | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cooley Dam.
Boat launches
- Country Club Road Warren County
- Luray Avenue Front Royal
- Strasburg Trail Strasburg
- Boat Ramp Warren County
- Misty Meadow Lane Warren County
- Seekford Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground
- Elizabeth Furnace
- Mudhole Gap Camping
- Mosby Campground
- Shenandoah River - Guest State Park
- Little Crease Shelter
Fishing spots
- Batzell Boat Launch
- White Sulphur Pond
- 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 Cooley 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 Cooley Dam
Where does the data for Cooley 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 Cooley Dam.