Circle M Ranch Lower Dam dam
Circle M Ranch Lower Dam
Circle M Ranch Lower Dam, located in Stokes, North Carolina, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. This earth dam, completed in 1968, stands at a hydraulic height of 28 feet and a structural height of 33 feet, with a length of 442 feet and a storage capacity of 115 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2015 reported poor conditions, highlighting the need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
The dam is regulated and inspected by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, indicating compliance with state regulations and regular monitoring to address any safety concerns. The surrounding area, including the Snow Creek-Tr river/stream, benefits from the dam's water storage capacity of 97 acre-feet for various uses. While the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are not clearly documented, its location in the Ceramic city area underscores the importance of maintaining its integrity to protect the local community and environment from potential hazards.
Overall, Circle M Ranch Lower Dam serves as a crucial infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in the region. As a privately owned structure, it plays a vital role in supporting fire protection efforts and providing water for livestock and recreational purposes. With a history dating back to the late 1960s, the dam's maintenance and upkeep are essential to ensure its continued function and safety, underscoring the importance of ongoing inspections and potential improvements to address its current poor condition assessment.
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 Circle M Ranch Lower Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Mayo River Near Nettleridge | 36 cfs | → |
| Dan R At Pine Hall | 154 cfs | → |
| Dan River Near Francisco | 61 cfs | → |
| Mayo River Near Price | 119 cfs | → |
| North Mayo River Near Spencer | 37 cfs | → |
| Dan River Near Wentworth | 309 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Circle M Ranch Lower Dam.
Boat launches
- Pine Hall Road 2547-2793, Walnut Cove
- Us Bus 220 Boat Access Stoneville
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Bethlehem Church Road 587, Eden
- South Fieldcrest Road Draper Village
Campgrounds
- Sunset Park Campground
- Hanging Rock State Park
- Ymca Camp Hanes
- Pilot Mountain State Park
- Fairy Stone State Park
- Willville Motorcycle Campground
Fishing spots
Track Circle M Ranch Lower 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 Circle M Ranch Lower Dam
Where does the data for Circle M Ranch Lower 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 Circle M Ranch Lower Dam.