Simpson Lake Dam dam
Simpson Lake Dam
Simpson Lake Dam, located in Rockingham, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of irrigation. Completed in 1958, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 24 feet and a structural height of 28 feet, with a length of 426 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 67 acre-feet and a surface area of 6 acres, serving Troublesome Creek-Tr for water resource management.
Despite being privately owned, Simpson Lake Dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, which ensures that the dam meets state inspection, enforcement, and permitting requirements. The dam's hazard potential is classified as low, with a satisfactory condition assessment as of the last inspection in January 2018. In case of emergencies, the dam has uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates to manage water flow, with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3.
Overall, Simpson Lake Dam is a crucial water resource infrastructure in the region, contributing to irrigation needs while adhering to state regulatory standards for safety and maintenance. With its modest risk level and satisfactory condition, the dam continues to play a vital role in water management for Troublesome Creek-Tr, demonstrating a harmonious balance between human needs and environmental preservation in the face of climate challenges.
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 Simpson Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Reedy Fork Near Oak Ridge | 3 cfs | → |
| Horsepen Creek At Us 220 Nr Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
| Dan River Near Wentworth | 281 cfs | → |
| Dan R At Pine Hall | 140 cfs | → |
| North Buffalo Creek At Church St At Greensboro | 3 cfs | → |
| North Buffalo Creek Near Greensboro | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Simpson Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Pine Hall Road 2547-2793, Walnut Cove
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Us Bus 220 Boat Access Stoneville
- Bethlehem Church Road 587, Eden
- South Fieldcrest Road Draper Village
- Homeview Road Burlington
Campgrounds
- Lake Reidsville Rec Park
- Oak Hollow City Campground
- Sunset Park Campground
- Shallow Ford Campsites
- Hagan-Stone Park
- Hanging Rock State Park
Fishing spots
Track Simpson 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 Simpson Lake Dam
Where does the data for Simpson 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 Simpson Lake Dam.