African Plains Dam dam
African Plains Dam
African Plains Dam, located in Randolph, North Carolina, along the Richland Creek-Tr river, is a state-owned structure primarily used for recreation. This Earth-type dam has a hydraulic height of 19 feet and a structural height of 22 feet, with a total length of 320 feet. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 38 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 76 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 6 acres.
Despite its low hazard potential, African Plains Dam underwent its last inspection in October 2014, where it was found to be in satisfactory condition. The dam has not been modified in recent years, and there are no associated structures or locks. While the dam does not fall under federal jurisdiction, it is regularly inspected by the state and has not required any enforcement actions. With its picturesque location and recreational opportunities, African Plains Dam serves as both a functional water resource and a scenic destination for nature enthusiasts and climate aficionados to enjoy.
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 African Plains Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deep River At Ramseur | 105 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Star | 5 cfs | → |
| Rocky R At Sr1300 Nr Crutchfield Crossroads | 2 cfs | → |
| Tick Creek Near Mount Vernon Springs | 1 cfs | → |
| Ryan Creek Below Us 220 At Greensboro | 0 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Creek At Us 220 At Greensboro | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near African Plains Dam.
Boat launches
- Cove Boat Ramp
- Marina Drive 298, Montgomery County
- Old Whitney Boat Ramp
- Morrow Mountain Boat Launch
- Falls Road Stanly County
- Badin Lake Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track African Plains 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 African Plains Dam
Where does the data for African Plains 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 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 African Plains Dam.