Heather Lake Dam dam
Heather Lake Dam
Heather Lake Dam, located in Gastonia, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure regulated by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a picturesque spot for enthusiasts to enjoy the beauty of Anthony Creek. With a hydraulic height of 20.5 feet and a structural height of 26 feet, the dam stands at 590 feet in length, creating a surface area of 7 acres and providing a storage capacity of 84 acre-feet.
Although Heather Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as satisfactory in condition, it is subject to regular inspections every five years to ensure its safety and integrity. The last inspection took place in October 2015, and the structure is equipped with emergency action plans to handle any potential risks. The dam's proximity to Gastonia and its recreational value make it a significant feature in the local water resource and climate landscape, attracting visitors who appreciate its beauty and functionality. Overall, Heather Lake Dam represents a harmonious blend of human engineering and natural beauty, contributing to the enjoyment and sustainability of the surrounding 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 Heather Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Catawba River At Lowell | 187 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Near Bessemer City | 4 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Ab Windy Gap Road Nr Shopton | 0 cfs | → |
| Paw Cr At Wilkinson Blvd Nr Charlotte | 8 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Nr Rhyne | 14 cfs | → |
| Taggart Creek At West Boulevard Nr Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Heather Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Wilkinson Boulevard Belmont
- East Charlotte Avenue Downtown
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
- Boatshore Road York County
Campgrounds
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Hounds Gateway Campground
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Ebenezer County Park
- Garner Creek
- Garner Creek Backcountry Campsite
Track Heather 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 Heather Lake Dam
Where does the data for Heather 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 Heather Lake Dam.