Bens Branch Dam dam
Bens Branch Dam
Bens Branch Dam, located in Wise, Virginia, is a gravity dam primarily used for water supply purposes. Standing at a height of 55 feet with a length of 266 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 403 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 0.6 square miles. The dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
With a high hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of August 2017, Bens Branch Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Despite its age and the lack of recent modifications, the dam continues to meet guidelines for emergency action plans and remains a key piece of infrastructure for water management in the area. As climate change impacts water availability and quality, dams like Bens Branch play a vital role in ensuring a sustainable water supply for communities.
Managed by the local government and situated in a picturesque location along Bens Branch river, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions. As enthusiasts and advocates for sustainable water use, Bens Branch Dam stands as a symbol of the need for ongoing maintenance and investment in critical infrastructure to safeguard water resources for future generations.
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 Bens Branch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Powell River At Big Stone Gap | 107 cfs | → |
| Poor Fork At Cumberland | 59 cfs | → |
| North Fork Kentucky River At Whitesburg | 23 cfs | → |
| Guest River At Coeburn | 20 cfs | → |
| Clinch River At Speers Ferry | 1,210 cfs | → |
| N F Holston River Near Gate City | 873 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bens Branch Dam.
Boat launches
- Big Cherry Road Wise County
- Lake Keokee Loop Lee County
- 2nd Avenue Scott County
- Sr 65 Dungannon
- Kingsport Greenbelt Kingsport
- Smithsboro Road Perry County
Campgrounds
- Flag Rock Recreation Area
- High Knob
- High Knob Recreation Area
- Portal 31 Rv Park
- Bark Camp
- Bark Camp Recreation Area Campground
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Alternative Route 58
- Fs Route 700 To Confluence With Clinch River
- State Route 72 Bridge To Confluence With Clinch River
- Confluence With Guest River To Confluence With Little Stony Creek
- Confluence Of White Branch With Russell Fork (And 1 Mile Upstream On Pound River) To Railroad Bridge Crossing Above Elkhorn City
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
Track Bens Branch 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 Bens Branch Dam
Where does the data for Bens Branch 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 Bens Branch Dam.