Lake Meade Dam dam
Lake Meade Dam
Lake Meade Dam in Suffolk, Virginia, is a gravity dam that serves as a crucial water supply source for the region. With a height of 25 feet and a storage capacity of 9,281 acre-feet, the dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the area. Despite its importance, the dam is classified as having a high hazard potential and a poor condition assessment, highlighting the need for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued functionality.
The dam, located on the Nansemond River, is regulated by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and undergoes regular inspections to assess its structural integrity. With a surface area of 590 acres and a drainage area of 64.4 square miles, Lake Meade Dam provides essential water storage for the surrounding community. However, the dam's condition assessment and hazard potential underscore the importance of ongoing risk management measures to mitigate any potential threats to the dam and surrounding areas.
As a primary water supply structure, Lake Meade Dam plays a critical role in providing water for residents and businesses in Suffolk, Virginia. With its proximity to the Nansemond River and Cedar Lake, the dam's strategic location enhances its ability to store and distribute water effectively. Despite its high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, efforts to maintain and monitor the dam ensure that it continues to fulfill its primary purpose of water supply 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 Lake Meade Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River Near Franklin | 18 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Dendron | 3 cfs | → |
| Pasquotank River Near South Mills | 27 cfs | → |
| Nottoway River Near Sebrell | 121 cfs | → |
| Potecasi Creek Near Union | 3 cfs | → |
| Ahoskie Creek At Ahoskie | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Meade Dam.
Boat launches
- Archery Range Trail Chuckatuck
- Field Trail Suffolk
- Bob House Parkway Suffolk
- Horseback Trail Chuckatuck
Track Lake Meade 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 Lake Meade Dam
Where does the data for Lake Meade 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 Lake Meade Dam.