Rural Retreat Dam dam
Rural Retreat Dam
Located in Wythe County, Virginia, the Rural Retreat Dam, also known as Wythe County Lake, is a state-owned structure managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. This earth dam sits on the South Fork Reed Creek and serves primarily for recreational purposes. With a height of 44.3 feet and a storage capacity of 2440 acre-feet, the dam offers a surface area of 79.5 acres for outdoor activities.
Despite its fair condition assessment as of 2014, the dam poses a high hazard potential, requiring regular inspections and enforcement by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. With a drainage area of 3.34 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. Its proximity to the Wilmington District further underscores its significance in the local ecosystem.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in Virginia can appreciate the Rural Retreat Dam for its contribution to recreational opportunities and its role in regulating water flow in the area. The dam's history, design, and current condition make it a noteworthy site for those interested in the intersection of human infrastructure with natural landscapes and ecosystems in the region.
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 Rural Retreat Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| New River At Ivanhoe | 632 cfs | → |
| M F Holston River At Seven Mile Ford | 48 cfs | → |
| S F Holston River At Riverside Nr Chilhowie | 42 cfs | → |
| Reed Creek At Grahams Forge | 91 cfs | → |
| New River Near Galax | 535 cfs | → |
| Chestnut Creek At Galax | 24 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rural Retreat Dam.
Boat launches
- Ivanhoe Boat Launch
- Cox's Chapel Road Grayson County
- Riverside Boat Ramp
- New River Trail Carroll County
- Pattons Mill Lane 1434, Grayson County
- Old River Lane 998, Grayson County
Campgrounds
- Rural Retreat Lake
- Blue Springs Gap Cabin
- Comers Rock Recreation Area
- Comers Rock
- Comers Rock Campground
- Stony Fork Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
- Green Cove--Jefferson Nf Near Confluence Of Star Hill Branch To Confluence With Whitetop Laurel
- The U.S. Route 460 Bridge In Glen Lyn, Virginia To The Maximum Summer Pool Elevation Of Bluestone Lake, South Of Hinton, West Virginia
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
- Jefferson Nf Boundary (Above Cascades Fall) To Jefferson Nf Boundary (Below Cascades Fall)
- Jefferson Nf Boundary Near Confluence With Nettle Hollow To Confluence With Laurel Branch
Track Rural Retreat 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 Rural Retreat Dam
Where does the data for Rural Retreat 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 Rural Retreat Dam.