Arnold Palmer Dam dam
Arnold Palmer Dam
Arnold Palmer Dam, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure built in 1987 primarily for recreational purposes. It stands as an earth-type dam with a hydraulic height of 12.5 feet and a structural height of 23.4 feet, impounding the Briar Creek-Tr river. With a storage capacity of 9.4 acre-feet and a drainage area of 288 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in providing water resource management and flood control in the region.
Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, Arnold Palmer Dam undergoes regular inspections and enforcement by state regulatory agencies like NCDEQ and DEMLR's Dam Safety Program. The dam's emergency action plan is up-to-date, ensuring that safety measures are in place in case of any unforeseen events. With Alma S. Adams (D) as the representative, the dam's risk management measures and potential risks are continuously monitored to safeguard the surrounding communities and environment from any potential threats.
Overall, Arnold Palmer Dam serves as a vital structure in the water resource management of Mecklenburg, North Carolina, providing a safe recreational environment while also addressing critical flood control needs. Its strategic location, sturdy design, and regulatory oversight highlight its importance in ensuring water security and safety for the region's residents and natural habitats.
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 Arnold Palmer Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ltl Sugar Cr At Medical Center Dr At Charlotte | 4 cfs | → |
| Briar Cr Above Colony Rd At Charlotte | 3 cfs | → |
| Briar Creek Near Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Hope Cr At Seneca Place At Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
| Campbell Creek Nr Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
| Mcmullen Cr At Sharon View Rd Near Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Arnold Palmer Dam.
Boat launches
- Wilkinson Boulevard Belmont
- East Charlotte Avenue Downtown
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Neck Road 5744, Huntersville
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Sign Language
- Ebenezer County Park
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Cane Creek Park
- Williams Farm
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Buck Branch
- Abbotts Creek
- Arrowhead Lake
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Buddle Branch
Track Arnold Palmer 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 Arnold Palmer Dam
Where does the data for Arnold Palmer 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 Arnold Palmer Dam.