Carpenter Dam dam
Carpenter Dam
Carpenter Dam is a private-owned structure located in Dobson, North Carolina, along Cooks Creek-Tr. This earth dam serves multiple purposes, including fire protection and creating a stock or small fish pond. With a hydraulic height of 14.3 feet and a structural height of 16.7 feet, this dam plays a vital role in regulating water flow and storage within its 1.2-acre surface area and a drainage area of 27 square miles.
Managed by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, Carpenter Dam is regularly inspected to ensure its fair condition and high hazard potential are managed effectively. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 8 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 12 acre-feet, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area. With a history dating back to an undisclosed completion year, Carpenter Dam stands as a critical infrastructure for the region's water resource management and conservation efforts.
The dam's location in Surry County, North Carolina, underlines its significance in the local ecosystem and community. As a regulated and permitted structure with state jurisdiction, Carpenter Dam's enforcement, inspection, and permitting processes are overseen by the NC Department of Environmental Quality. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate Carpenter Dam's role in safeguarding water supply, mitigating flood risk, and supporting biodiversity in the region.
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 Carpenter Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fisher River Near Copeland | 177 cfs | → |
| Ararat River At Ararat | 110 cfs | → |
| Mitchell River Near State Road | 57 cfs | → |
| Chestnut Creek At Galax | 23 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Elkin | 521 cfs | → |
| New River Near Galax | 525 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carpenter Dam.
Boat launches
- Pattons Mill Lane 1434, Grayson County
- Baywood Boat Ramp
- Riverside Boat Ramp
- Campground Trail Yadkin County
- New River Trail Carroll County
- Old River Lane 998, Grayson County
Campgrounds
- Camp Raven Knob
- Pilot Mountain State Park
- Cliffview Campground
- Stone Mountain State Park
- Ymca Camp Hanes
- Sandy Creek Family Campground
Fishing spots
Track Carpenter 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 Carpenter Dam
Where does the data for Carpenter 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 Carpenter Dam.