Little Mountain Aircraft Lake Dam dam
Little Mountain Aircraft Lake Dam
Little Mountain Aircraft Lake Dam, located in Catawba, North Carolina, was completed in 1974 for recreational purposes. This private earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 49 feet and a structural height of 55 feet, with a storage capacity of 66 acre-feet. Situated on South Fork Creek-Tr, the dam has a surface area of 3 acres and a low hazard potential, with a fair condition assessment as of November 2019.
The dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is subject to regular inspections, with the last one conducted in November 2019, and has an inspection frequency of 5 years. The dam does not have an emergency action plan in place, but it meets guidelines for risk management measures.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Little Mountain Aircraft Lake Dam an interesting structure, given its recreational purpose, location in a scenic area, and the regulatory framework in place to ensure its safety and compliance. With its modest storage capacity and low hazard potential, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water resource management and the need for proper oversight and maintenance of dam 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 Little Mountain Aircraft Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Killian Creek Near Mariposa | 44 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Laboratory | 70 cfs | → |
| Mcdowell Creek Nr Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
| W. Br Rocky R B Mth Of S Prong R Nr Cornelius | 5 cfs | → |
| Henry Fork Near Henry River | 39 cfs | → |
| Gar Creek At Sr2074 Nr Croft | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Mountain Aircraft Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Burton Lane 4906, Denver
- Seipel Drive 8335, Denver
- Shipley Lane Lincoln County
- Nc 73 Mecklenburg County
- Neck Road 5744, Huntersville
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Shepherds Field
- Fulda Gap / Cef Dragoons Hq
- South Mountains State Park
- Hounds Gateway Campground
- Family Campground, South Mountains State Park
- John H. Moss Lake City Campground
Fishing spots
Track Little Mountain Aircraft 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 Little Mountain Aircraft Lake Dam
Where does the data for Little Mountain Aircraft 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 Little Mountain Aircraft Lake Dam.