Walden Pond Dam #1 dam
Walden Pond Dam #1
Walden Pond Dam #1, located in Union, North Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1972 for the primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a hydraulic height of 23 feet and a structural height of 29 feet, with a length of 800 feet. It has a storage capacity of 185.6 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 147.2 acre-feet, serving the Tarkill Branch-Tr river/stream.
Despite its age, Walden Pond Dam #1 has been deemed to have a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in November 2019. The dam is state-regulated and inspected regularly by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. With its picturesque location and recreational purpose, this dam serves as both a vital water resource and a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts in the area.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the maintenance and upkeep of dams like Walden Pond Dam #1 are crucial in ensuring their resilience against the changing environment. With proper management and regulatory oversight, this dam can continue to provide recreational opportunities while safeguarding the surrounding community from potential hazards.
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 Walden Pond Dam #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Four Mile Creek Near Pineville | 3 cfs | → |
| Mcalpine Cr Below Mcmullen Cr Nr Pineville | 5 cfs | → |
| Little Sugar Creek At Pineville | 38 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At Nc 51 Near Pineville | 32 cfs | → |
| Waxhaw Creek At Sr1103 Near Jackson | 1 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Near Rockhill | 947 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walden Pond Dam #1.
Boat launches
- Catawba Nation Greenway Trail York County
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
- Windward Drive Tega Cay
- Boatshore Road York County
Campgrounds
- Sign Language
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Cane Creek Park
- Ebenezer County Park
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Williams Farm
Fishing spots
- Buck Branch
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Arrowhead Lake
- Pittman Lake
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
Track Walden Pond Dam #1 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 Walden Pond Dam #1
Where does the data for Walden Pond Dam #1 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 Walden Pond Dam #1.