Bowman Dam dam
Bowman Dam
Located in Alexander, North Carolina, Bowman Dam is a privately owned structure that plays a crucial role in providing fire protection, stock, and serving as a small fish pond. Completed in 1987, this earth dam stands at a height of 17 feet with a hydraulic height of 13.5 feet. It boasts a storage capacity of 7.8 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 2.7 acre-feet, making it a significant resource for the local community.
Bowman Dam, situated on the Middle Little River-Tr, is subject to state regulation and inspection by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program. Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, the dam remains a vital component of the water resource infrastructure in the region. With a structural height of 17 feet and a length of 250 feet, Bowman Dam serves as a critical asset for water management and emergency response in the area.
Maintaining a close watch on its condition and conducting regular inspections, Bowman Dam continues to provide essential services while mitigating potential risks. As a key feature in the water resource system, its role in fire protection, stock management, and creating a small fish pond underscores its importance in supporting the community's needs and enhancing resilience to climate change impacts.
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 Bowman Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Little River Nr All Healing Springs | 10 cfs | → |
| Henry Fork Near Henry River | 28 cfs | → |
| Elk Creek At Elkville | 26 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 13 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Wilkesboro | 354 cfs | → |
| Jacob Fork At Ramsey | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bowman Dam.
Boat launches
- Gunpowder Boat Ramp
- Weaver Lane Burke County
- Burton Lane 4906, Denver
- Seipel Drive 8335, Denver
- Shipley Lane Lincoln County
Campgrounds
- Fulda Gap / Cef Dragoons Hq
- Boone Fork Campground
- South Mountains State Park
- Sawtooth Campground
- Little River Campground
- Family Campground, South Mountains State Park
Fishing spots
Track Bowman 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 Bowman Dam
Where does the data for Bowman 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 Bowman Dam.