Hill Top Lake Dam dam
Hill Top Lake Dam
Hill Top Lake Dam, located in Forsyth, North Carolina, was completed in 1954 and serves as a vital water resource for the region. This private-owned Earth dam stands at a structural height of 27 feet with a hydraulic height of 24 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 36 acre-feet. The dam primarily caters to recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 3 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Hill Top Lake Dam is regulated and inspected by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. The dam has a history of meeting state permitting, inspection, and enforcement guidelines, ensuring the safety and integrity of the structure. With the last inspection conducted in December 2019, the dam continues to be a key feature in managing the water resources of the James Branch-Tr river system.
As a significant component of the region's water infrastructure, Hill Top Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water storage and recreational activities. With its well-maintained condition and adherence to state regulations, the dam stands as a testament to responsible water resource management in North Carolina. Enthusiasts and climate advocates can appreciate the balance between recreation and safety that this dam exemplifies in sustaining the local ecosystem.
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 Hill Top Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yadkin River At Enon | 670 cfs | → |
| Little Yadkin River At Dalton | 7 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Yadkin College | 876 cfs | → |
| Dan R At Pine Hall | 140 cfs | → |
| Ararat River At Ararat | 110 cfs | → |
| Reedy Fork Near Oak Ridge | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hill Top Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
- Pine Hall Road 2547-2793, Walnut Cove
- Nc Highway 801 South 5877, Mocksville
- Campground Trail Yadkin County
- Trading Ford Way Davidson County
Campgrounds
- Tanglewood Park
- Pilot Mountain State Park
- Ymca Camp Hanes
- Hanging Rock State Park
- Sunset Park Campground
- Oak Hollow City Campground
Fishing spots
Track Hill Top 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 Hill Top Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hill Top 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 Hill Top Lake Dam.