Marlwood Lake Dam dam
Marlwood Lake Dam
Marlwood Lake Dam, also known as Marlwood Circle Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, near the city of Charlotte. Built in 1955, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a serene and picturesque setting for visitors to enjoy. With a structural height of 12 feet and a hydraulic height of 8 feet, the dam overlooks Mcalpine Creek-Os, offering a peaceful escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
Although Marlwood Lake Dam is not regulated by the state and has a low hazard potential, it is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and integrity. The dam has a storage capacity of 58 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 26 cubic feet per second, making it an important feature in the local watershed. Despite its unassessed condition and lack of emergency action plans, Marlwood Lake Dam continues to provide a valuable recreational resource for the surrounding community.
With its tranquil waters and scenic surroundings, Marlwood Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of preserving and maintaining our water resources. As climate change continues to impact our environment, structures like this dam play a crucial role in providing both recreational enjoyment and essential water storage capacity for the region. Whether you're a nature lover, a fishing enthusiast, or simply seeking a peaceful escape, Marlwood Lake Dam offers a unique and valuable experience for all who visit.
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 Marlwood Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mcalpine Creek At Sr3150 Nr Idlewild | 0 cfs | → |
| Campbell Creek Nr Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
| Irvins Creek At Sr3168 Nr Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
| Reedy Creek At Sr 2803 Nr Charlotte | · | → |
| Briar Creek Near Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
| Mcalpine Cr At Sardis Road Near Charlotte | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Marlwood Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Neck Road 5744, Huntersville
- Wilkinson Boulevard Belmont
- East Charlotte Avenue Downtown
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
Campgrounds
- Sign Language
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Ebenezer County Park
- Williams Farm
- Cane Creek Park
- Andrew Jackson State Park
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Buck Branch
- Arrowhead Lake
- Abbotts Creek
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Buddle Branch
Track Marlwood Lake 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 Marlwood Lake Dam
Where does the data for Marlwood Lake 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 Marlwood Lake Dam.