Sparrow Road Lake Dam dam
Sparrow Road Lake Dam
Sparrow Road Lake Dam, also known as City No. 9, Elizabeth River Terrace, and Macdonald Park, is a private dam located in Norfolk, Virginia. This Earth-type dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Eastern Branch Elizabeth River. Standing at a height of 10.1 feet and spanning 400 feet in length, the dam provides a storage capacity of 59.2 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 26.25 acre-feet. Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of January 2010, the hazard potential of Sparrow Road Lake Dam remains undetermined, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance.
Situated in Virginia Beach County, Sparrow Road Lake Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the surrounding area. Its buttress core design and unlisted/unknown foundation contribute to its structural integrity. While the dam has not undergone any significant modifications or inspections since 2010, its satisfactory condition and storage capacity of 59.2 acre-feet make it a valuable asset for flood control efforts in the region. The dam's location near the Eastern Branch Elizabeth River underscores its importance in managing water resources and climate-related challenges in the area.
As a private dam with no state regulatory oversight, Sparrow Road Lake Dam represents a unique piece of infrastructure designed to reduce flood risks along the Eastern Branch Elizabeth River. Despite its relatively modest size compared to other dams, its strategic location and flood risk reduction purpose make it a vital component of the water resource management infrastructure in Norfolk, Virginia. Continued monitoring and maintenance will be essential to ensure the long-term effectiveness and safety of Sparrow Road Lake Dam in safeguarding the local community against potential flooding events.
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 Sparrow Road Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pasquotank River Near South Mills | 24 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Franklin | 14 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Dendron | 1 cfs | → |
| Nottoway River Near Sebrell | 499 cfs | → |
| Potecasi Creek Near Union | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sparrow Road Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Mayflower Road 4601, Norfolk
- Virginia Beach Boulevard 4336, Virginia Beach
- Lake Whitehurst Boat Ramp
- Willoughby Boat Ramp
- Osprey Trail Virginia Beach
- Blackwater Road 1449, Chesapeake
Track Sparrow Road Lake 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 Sparrow Road Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sparrow Road Lake 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 Undetermined 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 Sparrow Road Lake Dam.