Alford Brothers Lake Dam dam
Alford Brothers Lake Dam
Alford Brothers Lake Dam, located in Stanhope, North Carolina, is a private earth dam completed in 1955 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam has a structural height of 25 feet and a hydraulic height of 20 feet, providing a max storage capacity of 165 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Tar River-Tr and is regulated by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected, with the most recent assessment in April 2019 rating its condition as fair. The dam has a drainage area of 30 acres and a normal storage capacity of 136 acre-feet, making it a significant water resource in the region. With a history of recreation and leisure, the dam offers a surface area of 30 acres for visitors to enjoy various water-related activities.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Alford Brothers Lake Dam serves as a notable site for both recreational purposes and as a vital component of the local water management infrastructure. With its regulated status and regular inspections, the dam provides a safe and enjoyable environment for visitors while also contributing to the overall water management efforts in the area. Its historical significance, combined with its modern amenities and regulatory oversight, make it a compelling destination for those interested in the intersection of water resources and climate management.
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 Alford Brothers Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tar R At Us 401 At Louisburg | 18 cfs | → |
| Neuse River Near Falls | 123 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek At Hilliardston | 858 cfs | → |
| Tar River Near Tar River | 3 cfs | → |
| Marsh C Nr New Hope | 1 cfs | → |
| Contentnea Creek Near Lucama | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alford Brothers Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Neuse River Trail Raleigh
- Milburnie Dam Bridge Raleigh
- Barton's Creek Boat Ramp
- Falls Lake Trail Wake County
- Neuse River Trail Wake County
- Duck Cove Trail Wake County
Campgrounds
- Durant Nature Park
- Shoreline Campground
- Overlook Campground
- Shortleaf Pine Campground
- Bootleg Point Campground
- Osprey Nest Campground
Track Alford Brothers 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 Alford Brothers Lake Dam
Where does the data for Alford Brothers 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 Alford Brothers Lake Dam.