Winters Branch Dam dam
Winters Branch Dam
Located in Manassas, Virginia, the Winters Branch Dam serves as a crucial structure for flood risk reduction along the Winters Branch river. Owned by the local government and regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, this earth dam stands at a height of 26.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 175 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, the dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
The Winters Branch Dam has a significant hazard potential and has not been rated for its current condition as of the last inspection in December 2015. Despite this, the dam remains in operation and is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and effectiveness in flood control. With a drainage area of 1.02 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 3.6 acre-feet, the dam contributes to the overall water resource management in the region, highlighting the importance of sustainable infrastructure for climate resilience and water conservation efforts.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and extreme weather events become more frequent, the Winters Branch Dam stands as a critical infrastructure for managing flood risks in the Manassas area. With its strategic location and design, the dam plays a key role in protecting communities and natural habitats from potential inundation, showcasing the importance of proactive measures in adapting to a changing climate and ensuring the resilience of water resource systems 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 Winters Branch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Run Near Catlett | 117 cfs | → |
| S F Quantico Creek Near Independent Hill | 6 cfs | → |
| Long Branch Near Annandale | 4 cfs | → |
| Accotink Creek Near Annandale | 50 cfs | → |
| Aquia Creek Near Garrisonville | 11 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek Near Leesburg | 449 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Winters Branch Dam.
Boat launches
- Sinclair Lane Prince William County
- Doves Trail Prince William County
- Forest Hill Road Lake Ridge
- Rogues Road Fauquier County
- County Road 639 1302, Stafford County
- Ashburn Village Boulevard 20585, Lansdowne
Campgrounds
- Outpost 60 Campsite
- Bull Run Regional Park
- Burke Lake Park
- Oak Ridge Campground
- Oak Ridge - Prince William Forest Park
- Site 1
Fishing spots
- Maddox Branch
- Davis Branch (Historical)
- Gillam Branch (Historical)
- Georgetown Reservoir
- Piscataway Creek
- Washington Aqueduct
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
Track Winters 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 Winters Branch Dam
Where does the data for Winters 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 Significant 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 Winters Branch Dam.