Dickens Lake Dam dam
Dickens Lake Dam
Dickens Lake Dam, located in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, was completed in 1920 and serves primarily for irrigation purposes. This private earth dam on Deep Creek has a hydraulic height of 8 feet and a structural height of 10 feet, with a length of 240 feet and a storage capacity of 69 acre-feet. The dam has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition since its last inspection in 1976.
The dam, owned by a private entity, does not fall under state regulation or jurisdiction. It is not permitted by the state but is regularly inspected. Despite its age, Dickens Lake Dam continues to provide essential water resources for irrigation purposes, maintaining a normal storage level of 58 acre-feet. Additionally, the dam offers recreational opportunities within its surface area of 12 acres, making it a valuable asset for the community of Halifax County.
Overall, Dickens Lake Dam stands as a historic structure that plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. As climate and water resource enthusiasts explore the facets of this earth dam, they can appreciate its significance in providing irrigation water, recreational opportunities, and a glimpse into the engineering practices of the early 20th century.
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 Dickens Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Roanoke River At Roanoke Rapids | 2,360 cfs | → |
| Meherrin River Near Lawrenceville | 58 cfs | → |
| Little Fishing Creek Near White Oak | 8 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Near Enfield | 27 cfs | → |
| Meherrin River At Emporia | 100 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek At Hilliardston | 858 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dickens Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Summit Landing At Lake Gaston
- Van Warren Road Halifax County
- Wildlife Landing Northampton County
- Salmon Landing Road, Littleton
- River Road Warren County
- West 5th Street 1724-1728, Roanoke Rapids
Campgrounds
- Camp Willow Springs
- Medoc Mt. State Park
- County Line State Rec Area - Kerr Lake
- Kimball Point State Rec Area - Kerr Lake
- Camping Area A
- Host Sites
Fishing spots
Track Dickens 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 Dickens Lake Dam
Where does the data for Dickens 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 Dickens Lake Dam.