Lost River #4 Dam dam
Lost River #4 Dam
Lost River #4 Dam, also known as Kimsey Run Dam, is a vital piece of infrastructure located in Hardy, West Virginia. Constructed in 1996 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at an impressive height of 90.9 feet and serves primarily for flood risk reduction along Kimsey Run. With a storage capacity of 10,256 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels and protecting the surrounding area from flooding.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Lost River #4 Dam has been assessed to be in satisfactory condition, with a high hazard potential. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in 2017, ensuring that proper measures are in place in case of a catastrophic event. Despite the moderate risk assessment, the dam continues to provide essential flood protection for the community of Lost River and the surrounding areas.
Lost River #4 Dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts in West Virginia. With its strategic location and design, this dam not only mitigates flood risks but also contributes to the overall safety and well-being of the local residents. As climate change continues to pose challenges, structures like Lost River #4 Dam play a crucial role in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of a changing environment.
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 Lost River #4 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| So Fk South Branch Potomac R Nr Moorefield | 36 cfs | → |
| Waites Run Near Wardensville | 8 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River At Mount Jackson | 68 cfs | → |
| So. Branch Potomac River Nr Petersburg | 182 cfs | → |
| Smith Creek Near New Market | 18 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River At Cootes Store | 129 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lost River #4 Dam.
Boat launches
- Kimsey Run Road Hardy County
- South Page Valley Road Page County
- Bixlers Ferry Rd Page County
- Page County
- Strasburg Trail Strasburg
- Seekford Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Trout Pond
- Trout Pond Recreation Area
- Trout Pond Campground
- Wolf Gap Recreation Area
- Wolf Gap
- Short Mountain Wma
Fishing spots
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
- White Sulphur Pond
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Moody Boat Launch
- Batzell Boat Launch
Paddle runs
- The West Virginia 259 Bridge South Of Wardensville To Ends Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River
- Begins Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River To Wardensville
- Wardensville To The Town Of Capon Bridge
- Jake Hill Road Bridge To Shreve Store
- Shreve Store To Big Bend Campground
- Big Bend Campground To Canyon Exit (Just Prior To Confluence With North Branch)
Track Lost River #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 Lost River #4 Dam
Where does the data for Lost River #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 Lost River #4 Dam.