Bynum - Canal Embankment dam
Bynum - Canal Embankment
The Bynum - Canal Embankment is a historic earth dam located in Bynum, North Carolina, along the Haw River. Built in 1874 for hydroelectric purposes, this dam stands at 8 feet in height and stretches 500 feet in length, providing storage of up to 100 acre-feet of water. The dam is privately owned and operated, with no state jurisdiction or regulation, but falls under the oversight of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Despite its low hazard potential, the Bynum - Canal Embankment poses a high risk, with a risk assessment rating of 2. The dam features two Tainter (radial) outlet gates and has a condition assessment listed as Not Available. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, it undergoes inspections every three years, with the last inspection conducted in February 2018. Emergency action plans have been prepared for this dam, with the most recent revision made in March 2021.
Enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate change will find the Bynum - Canal Embankment to be a captivating historical structure with a unique purpose in hydroelectric energy generation. The dam's location along the Haw River in Chatham County, North Carolina, offers a picturesque setting for studying the intersection of human infrastructure with natural waterways and ecosystems. With its long history and ongoing operation under federal oversight, this dam serves as a valuable case study in the management and maintenance of aging water infrastructure in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Bynum - Canal Embankment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Haw River Near Bynum | 118 cfs | → |
| Deep River At Moncure | 54 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near White Cross | 0 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near Chapel Hill | 6 cfs | → |
| White Oak Cr At Mouth Near Green Level | · | → |
| New Hope Creek Near Blands | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bynum - Canal Embankment .
Boat launches
- Hanks Chapel Road 2765, Town Of Pittsboro
- Ferrington Boat Ramp, Chapel Hill
- Jordan Dam Road 935, Chatham County
- Lakeview Drive Alamance County
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
Campgrounds
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- San Lee County Park
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Bynum - Canal Embankment 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 Bynum - Canal Embankment
Where does the data for Bynum - Canal Embankment 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 Bynum - Canal Embankment .