Lake Hamilton Dam dam
Lake Hamilton Dam
Lake Hamilton Dam, located in Greensboro, North Carolina, is a significant earth dam with a hydraulic height of 22 feet and a structural height of 25.72 feet. Built in 1931 for recreational purposes, the dam stands proudly along Buffalo Creek-Tr, offering a serene and picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With a normal storage capacity of 94 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 110 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 10.7 acres and serves a drainage area of 268 square miles.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Lake Hamilton Dam poses a high hazard potential, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance. The dam has been regulated and permitted by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring state jurisdiction and enforcement. With its last inspection conducted in January 2021 and an inspection frequency of every 2 years, the dam's safety and integrity remain a top priority for its private owners.
As a vital recreational structure in Guilford County, Lake Hamilton Dam plays a crucial role in providing water resources and outdoor activities for the community. Its historical significance, combined with its natural beauty and potential risks, makes it a captivating site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and appreciate. With ongoing monitoring and adherence to safety guidelines, Lake Hamilton Dam continues to stand as a symbol of both leisure and responsibility in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Lake Hamilton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Buffalo Creek Nr Pomona | 1 cfs | → |
| N Buffalo Cr At Westover Terrace At Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
| Horsepen Creek At Us 220 Nr Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
| North Buffalo Creek At Church St At Greensboro | 3 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Creek At Us 220 At Greensboro | 2 cfs | → |
| Ryan Creek Below Us 220 At Greensboro | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Hamilton Dam.
Boat launches
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Homeview Road Burlington
- Pine Hall Road 2547-2793, Walnut Cove
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
- Haw River Trail Alamance County
- Island Trail Alamance County
Campgrounds
- Oak Hollow City Campground
- Hagan-Stone Park
- Lake Reidsville Rec Park
- Shallow Ford Campsites
- Sunset Park Campground
- Hanging Rock State Park
Fishing spots
Track Lake Hamilton 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 Lake Hamilton Dam
Where does the data for Lake Hamilton 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 Lake Hamilton Dam.