Foster Sikes Dam dam
Foster Sikes Dam
Foster Sikes Dam, located in Guilford, North Carolina, on Big Alamance Creek-Tr, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation. The dam has a hydraulic height of 22.6 feet and a structural height of 29 feet, with a total length of 438 feet. It has a maximum storage capacity of 89 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 70 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 7.7 acres. The dam poses a high hazard potential but has been assessed as being in fair condition as of February 2020.
Managed by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, Foster Sikes Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam has a history of periodic inspections, with the last one conducted in February 2020. With a hazard potential rating of high, it is crucial for the dam owner to ensure proper maintenance and emergency preparedness measures are in place to mitigate any risks associated with the dam.
Despite its high hazard potential, Foster Sikes Dam continues to provide recreational opportunities for the local community in Alamance. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the balance between the dam's essential functions for water management and its role in offering recreational activities. As efforts to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam continue, the surrounding area benefits from the beauty and tranquility that the dam and its reservoir provide.
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 Foster Sikes Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Creek Below Us 220 At Greensboro | 0 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Cr Near Greensboro | 3 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Creek At Us 220 At Greensboro | 2 cfs | → |
| N Buffalo Cr At Westover Terrace At Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Creek Nr Pomona | 1 cfs | → |
| North Buffalo Creek At Church St At Greensboro | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Foster Sikes Dam.
Boat launches
- Homeview Road Burlington
- Haw River Trail Alamance County
- Island Trail Alamance County
- Graham Paddle Access Graham
- Haw River Trail Haw River
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Foster Sikes 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 Foster Sikes Dam
Where does the data for Foster Sikes 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 Foster Sikes Dam.