Little Dam dam
Little Dam
Little Dam, located in Hickory, North Carolina, serves as a vital source of hydroelectric power along the Gunpowder Creek. With a structural height of 22 feet and a hydraulic height of 20 feet, this concrete buttress dam stands as a beacon of sustainable energy production in the region. The dam boasts a storage capacity of 130 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 11 acres, making it a significant contributor to the local water resource management efforts.
Despite its high hazard potential, Little Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, signaling a need for further inspection and maintenance. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, its emergency action plan status remains unknown, raising concerns about the preparedness for potential risks. As enthusiasts in water resources and climate, there is a compelling opportunity to advocate for enhanced safety measures and risk management strategies to safeguard this critical hydroelectric infrastructure.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the importance of Little Dam in providing sustainable hydroelectric power and regulating water flow along Gunpowder Creek. The dam's location in Caldwell County, North Carolina, highlights its significance in the region's energy infrastructure. However, with its high hazard potential and lacking condition assessment, there is a pressing need for increased attention to inspection, maintenance, and emergency preparedness to ensure the long-term viability and safety of this essential water resource structure. By advocating for improved risk management measures and adherence to guidelines, we can help protect Little Dam and support its continued contribution to the local energy grid and water resource management efforts.
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 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Fork Near Henry River | 39 cfs | → |
| Lower Little River Nr All Healing Springs | 13 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 23 cfs | → |
| Jacob Fork At Ramsey | 15 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 153 cfs | → |
| Elk Creek At Elkville | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Dam.
Boat launches
- Gunpowder Boat Ramp
- Weaver Lane Burke County
- Linville Boat Ramp
- Canal Bridge Boat Ramp Burke County
- Hidden Cove Boat Ramp Mcdowell County
- Burton Lane 4906, Denver
Campgrounds
- Fulda Gap / Cef Dragoons Hq
- Sawtooth Campground
- South Mountains State Park
- Little River Campground
- Family Campground, South Mountains State Park
- Shinny Falls Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
Track Little 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 Dam
Where does the data for Little 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 High 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 Dam.