Anchors Landing Lower dam
Anchors Landing Lower
Anchors Landing Lower, also known as Lower Heron Lake, is a private water resource located in Hickory, North Carolina. This recreational dam was completed in 2001 and serves the primary purpose of recreation. With a structural height of 33 feet and a hydraulic height of 27 feet, this earth dam has a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 2 acres. The dam is situated on Gunpowder Creek-Tr and falls under the jurisdiction of the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program.
Despite its recreational benefits, Anchors Landing Lower poses a significant hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. The dam has a drainage area of 188 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 760 cubic feet per second. Inspections are conducted every two years, with the most recent assessment conducted in December 2020. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in January 2016, and further risk management measures may be needed to ensure the safety and stability of the structure.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Anchors Landing Lower an intriguing site for its recreational opportunities and the challenges it faces in terms of safety and maintenance. With its unique location and significant hazard potential, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proper management and oversight in preserving our water resources for future generations.
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 Anchors Landing Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Fork Near Henry River | 39 cfs | → |
| Lower Little River Nr All Healing Springs | 13 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 23 cfs | → |
| Jacob Fork At Ramsey | 15 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 153 cfs | → |
| Elk Creek At Elkville | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Anchors Landing Lower.
Boat launches
- Gunpowder Boat Ramp
- Weaver Lane Burke County
- Linville Boat Ramp
- Canal Bridge Boat Ramp Burke County
- Hidden Cove Boat Ramp Mcdowell County
- Burton Lane 4906, Denver
Campgrounds
- Fulda Gap / Cef Dragoons Hq
- Sawtooth Campground
- South Mountains State Park
- Little River Campground
- Family Campground, South Mountains State Park
- Shinny Falls Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
Track Anchors Landing Lower 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 Anchors Landing Lower
Where does the data for Anchors Landing Lower 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 Significant 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 Anchors Landing Lower.