Buffalo Lake Dam dam
Buffalo Lake Dam
Buffalo Lake Dam, located in Greensboro, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves as a crucial water supply source for the area. Completed in 1922, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 20 feet and a structural height of 23 feet, with a length of 960 feet. It has a storage capacity of 868 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 76 acres, drawing water from the North Buffalo Creek-Tr.
Despite its age, the dam has been regularly inspected and maintained by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, ensuring its structural integrity and safety. The most recent assessment in January 2021 rated its condition as fair, with a high hazard potential due to its location and storage capacity. While the dam meets state regulatory standards, its emergency action plan and risk management measures remain unspecified, leaving room for improvement in emergency preparedness.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts following the Buffalo Lake Dam will be interested in its historical significance as a water supply infrastructure in Guilford County. With its high hazard potential and fair condition assessment, there is a need for continued monitoring and potential enhancements to its emergency preparedness protocols. As a key component of the local water supply system, the dam plays a crucial role in water management and environmental sustainability in the region, making it a focal point for ongoing research and conservation efforts.
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 Buffalo Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Buffalo Creek At Church St At Greensboro | 3 cfs | → |
| N Buffalo Cr At Westover Terrace At Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
| North Buffalo Creek Near Greensboro | 5 cfs | → |
| Horsepen Creek At Us 220 Nr Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Cr Near Greensboro | 3 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Creek At Us 220 At Greensboro | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buffalo Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Homeview Road Burlington
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Haw River Trail Alamance County
- Island Trail Alamance County
- Pine Hall Road 2547-2793, Walnut Cove
- Haw River Trail Haw River
Campgrounds
- Hagan-Stone Park
- Lake Reidsville Rec Park
- Oak Hollow City Campground
- Shallow Ford Campsites
- Sunset Park Campground
Fishing spots
Track Buffalo 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 Buffalo Lake Dam
Where does the data for Buffalo 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 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 Buffalo Lake Dam.