Chicken Springs Dam dam
Chicken Springs Dam
Chicken Springs Dam, also known as Williford Dam, is a local government-owned structure located in Spencer, North Carolina. This dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a hydraulic height of 1.5 feet and a structural height of 19 feet. It has a storage capacity of 9 acre-feet and covers an area of 2.5 acres, with a drainage area of 70 acres.
Despite its recreational function, Chicken Springs Dam poses a high hazard potential with a poor condition assessment. The last inspection in April 2019 revealed the dam's subpar state, prompting a biennial inspection frequency. The dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring that it meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements.
Located within the Wilmington District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Chicken Springs Dam represents a key water resource management structure in Rowan County. Despite its modest size, its critical role in providing recreational opportunities underscores the importance of ongoing maintenance and monitoring to ensure the safety of residents and visitors alike.
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 Chicken Springs Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Second Creek Near Barber | 18 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Yadkin College | 953 cfs | → |
| Abbotts Creek At Lexington | 32 cfs | → |
| South Yadkin River Near Mocksville | 78 cfs | → |
| Coddle Cr At Sr 1612 Near Davidson | 4 cfs | → |
| W. Br Rocky R B Mth Of S Prong R Nr Cornelius | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chicken Springs Dam.
Boat launches
- Trading Ford Way Davidson County
- Nc Highway 801 South 5877, Mocksville
- Wildlife Rec Area Access Road 899, Davidson County
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
- Marina Drive 298, Montgomery County
- Old Whitney Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Shepherds Field
- Tanglewood Park
- Badin Lake
- Badin Lake Campground
- Badin Lake Capmground Upper Loop
- Badin Lake Group Camp
Fishing spots
- Abbotts Creek
- Buddle Branch
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Boulding Branch
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Bean Shoals
Track Chicken Springs 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 Chicken Springs Dam
Where does the data for Chicken Springs 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 Chicken Springs Dam.