Cowans Ford dam
Cowans Ford
Cowans Ford, also known as Lake Norman, is a striking hydroelectric facility located in Mecklenburg, North Carolina. Managed by a public utility, this concrete dam, completed in 1963, stands at an impressive height of 134 feet and has a storage capacity of 414,100 acre-feet. The dam's primary purposes include hydroelectric power generation, recreation, and water supply for the surrounding area.
Nestled on the Catawba River, Cowans Ford boasts a surface area of 32,510 acres and a drainage area of 1,790 square miles. With a maximum discharge of 225,612 cubic feet per second, the dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 465 feet. Despite its high hazard potential, the facility is subject to regular inspections by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure its safety and reliability.
With its multi-arch core design and 11 tainter gates for water release, Cowans Ford is a vital resource in the region, contributing to both water management and renewable energy production. As climate change continues to impact water resources, this impressive structure plays a crucial role in meeting the growing demands for clean energy and sustainable water supply in North Carolina.
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 Cowans Ford -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mcdowell Creek Nr Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
| Killian Creek Near Mariposa | 44 cfs | → |
| Gar Creek At Sr2074 Nr Croft | 1 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Near Paw Creek | 0 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Nr Rhyne | 6 cfs | → |
| W. Br Rocky R B Mth Of S Prong R Nr Cornelius | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cowans Ford .
Boat launches
- Nc 73 Mecklenburg County
- Shipley Lane Lincoln County
- Seipel Drive 8335, Denver
- Neck Road 5744, Huntersville
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
- Burton Lane 4906, Denver
Campgrounds
- Shepherds Field
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Hounds Gateway Campground
- Ebenezer County Park
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Sign Language
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Benfield Creek
- Abbotts Creek
- Buck Branch
- Buddle Branch
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
Track Cowans Ford 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 Cowans Ford
Where does the data for Cowans Ford 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 Cowans Ford .