Lake Forest Dam dam
Lake Forest Dam
Lake Forest Dam, located in Jefferson, West Virginia, is a privately owned structure that plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. This dam, situated on Furnace Run, stands at a height of 30 feet and has a storage capacity of 77.3 acre-feet. With a surface area of 6.4 acres, Lake Forest Dam serves as a significant water management feature in the region, regulating water flow and providing vital storage for both normal and maximum storage needs.
Managed by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Lake Forest Dam has been deemed to have a low hazard potential and is in satisfactory condition as per the latest assessment conducted in June 2015. Regular inspections are carried out every five years to ensure the structural integrity and safety of the dam. In the event of an emergency, there is an Emergency Action Plan in place, although the details of its last revision date are yet to be updated. Overall, Lake Forest Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for water resource management in the area, ensuring the safety and security of the surrounding community in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Forest Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah River At Millville | 660 cfs | → |
| N F Goose Creek At Rt 729 Near Lincoln | 8 cfs | → |
| Piney Run Near Lovettsville | 3 cfs | → |
| N F Catoctin Creek At Rt 681 Near Waterford | 5 cfs | → |
| S F Catoctin Creek At Rt 698 Near Waterford | 4 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek At Rt 734 Near Mountville | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Forest Dam.
Boat launches
- River Haven Drive Jefferson County
- Shannondale Springs Road 199, Jefferson County
- Harry Byrd Highway Clarke County
- Bloomery Road 742, Jefferson County
- Armory Canal Trail Harpers Ferry
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Antietam
Campgrounds
- 4 Mile Campsite
- Huckleberry Hill
- Huckleberry Hill Hiker-Biker Campsite
- Leave No Trace
- Outback
- Locust Grove
Fishing spots
- Potomac River Reservoir
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal
- Culler Lake
- Blairs Valley Lake
- Hunting Creek Lake
- Little Owens Creek
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- 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
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
Track Lake Forest 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 Forest Dam
Where does the data for Lake Forest 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 Low 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 Forest Dam.