Earnhardt Lake Dam dam
Earnhardt Lake Dam
Earnhardt Lake Dam, located in Cabarrus, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, classified as an Earth type, stands at a hydraulic height of 22.5 feet and a structural height of 25 feet, with a length of 275 feet. It has a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and is situated on the Coddle Creek-Tr-Os waterway.
Despite being a low hazard potential structure with a fair condition assessment, Earnhardt Lake Dam is regulated and inspected by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program. The last inspection took place in November 2019, with a scheduled frequency of every 5 years. With a drainage area of 749 acres and a maximum discharge rate of 65 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and ensuring public safety in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Earnhardt Lake Dam to be a fascinating example of how private entities can contribute to recreational opportunities while also fulfilling regulatory requirements for dam safety. As a part of the larger water management system in North Carolina, this dam serves as a vital piece of infrastructure that helps to control water flow and protect against potential hazards, showcasing the intersection of human engineering with natural resources in a dynamic environment.
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 Earnhardt Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Coddle Cr At Sr 1612 Near Davidson | 3 cfs | → |
| W. Br Rocky R B Mth Of S Prong R Nr Cornelius | 3 cfs | → |
| Clarke Creek Near Harrisburg | 2 cfs | → |
| Mallard Cr Bl Stony Cr Nr Harrisburg | 5 cfs | → |
| Mcdowell Creek Nr Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
| Gar Creek At Sr2074 Nr Croft | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Earnhardt Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Seipel Drive 8335, Denver
- Shipley Lane Lincoln County
- Nc 73 Mecklenburg County
- Neck Road 5744, Huntersville
- Burton Lane 4906, Denver
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Abbotts Creek
- Buddle Branch
- Benfield Creek
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Buck Branch
Track Earnhardt 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 Earnhardt Lake Dam
Where does the data for Earnhardt 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 Earnhardt Lake Dam.