Z-Dam

Z-Dam is upstream of the normal put-in at Pony Pasture. There is no parking allowed at Z-Dam. Typically boaters drive their equipment to the dam then park in the Pony Pasture lot and walk the .8 miles back. Make sure someone is watching your equipment or secure it when parking your car, equipment has been stolen here in the past.

There are two distinct river levels that provide different play features at Z-Dam:

Z-Spot is a fish ladder cut into the river right side of Z-Dam (right side of Williams Island low-head dam). It's a great play spot between 5.2ft and 5.5ft. Below this level, it gets pretty sticky and at higher levels, it becomes flushy and hard to stay in the hole. At the right level this is one of the best play spots in Virginia, Loops and cartwheels are the major moves. There is eddy service on both sides of the hole. Be very careful of the low-head dam when in the eddy, it will try to pull you in.

At high levels around 13 - 15 ft, a taller wave develops with a foam pile, but there is no eddy service. The best play at high water is on river left near Williams Island. Boaters typically put-in at Huguenot Flatwater access to make the ferry  to the left side. You can use the portage trail to get back to the top for this great wave. Make sure your crew is heads up to alert surfers of the inevitable wood traveling downstream as the trough is deep enough to block line of sight.

Stay away from the middle of the dam at all levels.