Shopshire Dam dam
Shopshire Dam
Shopshire Dam, located in Surry, North Carolina, stands as a vital water resource structure along the Ararat River-Tr. This privately owned dam, completed in 1967, serves primarily for recreation purposes, boasting a hydraulic height of 29 feet and a structural height of 30.2 feet. With a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.3 acres, Shopshire Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
The dam, regulated by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality. Classified with a high hazard potential, Shopshire Dam holds a fair condition assessment as of December 2020. The dam's emergency action plan, last revised in 2015, remains an essential component in managing potential risks and ensuring the safety of surrounding communities in case of emergencies.
With its strategic location in Ararat/White Plains and its significant role in water resource management, Shopshire Dam stands as a key structure for both water resource and climate enthusiasts. Its impact on the region's water supply, recreation opportunities, and emergency preparedness highlight the importance of maintaining and monitoring this critical infrastructure.
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 Shopshire Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ararat River At Ararat | 110 cfs | → |
| Fisher River Near Copeland | 177 cfs | → |
| Mitchell River Near State Road | 57 cfs | → |
| Little Yadkin River At Dalton | 7 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Elkin | 521 cfs | → |
| Dan River Near Francisco | 59 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shopshire Dam.
Boat launches
- Campground Trail Yadkin County
- Pattons Mill Lane 1434, Grayson County
- Baywood Boat Ramp
- Riverside Boat Ramp
- New River Trail Carroll County
Campgrounds
- Pilot Mountain State Park
- Camp Raven Knob
- Ymca Camp Hanes
- Hanging Rock State Park
- Stone Mountain State Park
- Sunset Park Campground
Fishing spots
Track Shopshire 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 Shopshire Dam
Where does the data for Shopshire 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 Shopshire Dam.