Beaver Creek Dam dam
Beaver Creek Dam
Beaver Creek Dam, located in Bristol, Virginia, is a Federal-owned structure managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Built in 1965, this earth dam stands at a height of 85 feet and has a hydraulic height of 79 feet. With a storage capacity of 6920 acre-feet and a drainage area of 13.7 square miles, Beaver Creek Dam plays a critical role in regulating water flow and reducing flood risks in the region.
The dam, constructed by TVA, is associated with the Beaver Creek river and spans a length of 1588 feet. It features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 200 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 19,300 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment is moderate, with regular inspections and maintenance carried out by TVA. In 2015, both hydraulic and structural modifications were made to enhance the dam's safety and efficiency, ensuring its continued effectiveness in flood risk reduction and water resource management.
With its strategic location and critical role in flood control, Beaver Creek Dam is a vital component of the water infrastructure in Bristol, Virginia. Managed and regulated by TVA, this earth dam provides essential protection to the surrounding areas, safeguarding against potential flooding events. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of structures like Beaver Creek Dam in mitigating risks and ensuring water security becomes increasingly evident, making it a key asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor and study.
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 Beaver Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Creek At Bristol | 325 cfs | → |
| S F Holston River Near Damascus | 176 cfs | → |
| M F Holston River Near Meadowview | 140 cfs | → |
| Watauga River At Elizabethton | 754 cfs | → |
| Clinch River At Cleveland | 148 cfs | → |
| Doe River At Elizabethton | 293 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Beaver Creek Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Beaver Creek Dam
Where does the data for Beaver Creek 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 below 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.
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.