South Fork No. 4 Dam dam
South Fork No. 4 Dam
South Fork No. 4 Dam, also known as Rodabaugh Run, is a key structure in Hardy, West Virginia, designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1965. This earth dam stands at a height of 116.7 feet and serves primarily for flood risk reduction along the Rodabaugh Run. With a maximum storage capacity of 2941 acre-feet and a normal storage of 181 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating potential disasters in the area.
Owned by the local government and regulated by the West Virginia Division of Water and Waste Management, South Fork No. 4 Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a maximum discharge capacity of 46,840 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the structure has not been modified in recent years and is inspected every two years to ensure its integrity and safety for the surrounding community.
In the event of an emergency, the dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) has been last revised in 2018, and the risk management measures are in place to address any potential issues. With its strategic location and critical role in flood risk reduction, South Fork No. 4 Dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts 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 South Fork No. 4 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| So. Branch Potomac River Nr Petersburg | 182 cfs | → |
| So Fk South Branch Potomac R Nr Moorefield | 36 cfs | → |
| N F South Br Potomac R At Cabins | 66 cfs | → |
| So Fk So Br Potomac R At Brandywine | 10 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River At Cootes Store | 129 cfs | → |
| South Branch Potomac River At Franklin | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Fork No. 4 Dam.
Campgrounds
- Camp Run Campground
- Jess Judy Group Campground
- Princess Snowbird Campground
- Seneca Shadows Campground
- Brandywine Campground
- Brandywine Recreation Area
Fishing spots
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
- Dry Fork
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
- White Sulphur Pond
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- Big Bend Campground To Canyon Exit (Just Prior To Confluence With North Branch)
- Shreve Store To Big Bend Campground
- Canyon Exit To Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks Nra Boundary
- Jake Hill Road Bridge To Shreve Store
- High Ridge Run To Outskirts Of Hopeville
- Perennial Stream At Forks To Dolly Sods Wilderness Boundary
Track South Fork No. 4 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 South Fork No. 4 Dam
Where does the data for South Fork No. 4 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 South Fork No. 4 Dam.