Saxapahaw dam
Saxapahaw
Saxapahaw is a privately owned hydroelectric dam located in Alamance County, North Carolina, along the Haw River. Built in 1938, this concrete dam stands at a height of 26 feet and has a hydraulic height of 28 feet. With a storage capacity of 315 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 10,800 cubic feet per second, Saxapahaw plays a crucial role in water resource management and power generation in the region.
Operated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Saxapahaw's primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation. The dam has a significant hazard potential and is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and structural integrity. Despite its age, Saxapahaw continues to be a key player in the local water infrastructure, providing essential services while also posing some level of risk that needs to be managed effectively.
With a spillway width of 700 feet and an uncontrolled spillway type, Saxapahaw is equipped to handle excess water flow during periods of high rainfall or flooding. The dam's moderate risk level and its location in the Wilmington District underscore the importance of maintaining and monitoring this vital piece of water infrastructure to safeguard both the environment and surrounding communities. Saxapahaw stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management, climate resilience, and sustainable energy production 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 Saxapahaw -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cane Creek Near Orange Grove | 0 cfs | → |
| Haw River At Haw River | 74 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near White Cross | 0 cfs | → |
| Rocky R At Sr1300 Nr Crutchfield Crossroads | 2 cfs | → |
| Eno River At Hillsborough | 6 cfs | → |
| Haw River Near Bynum | 118 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Saxapahaw .
Boat launches
- Lakeview Drive Alamance County
- Haw River Trail Alamance County
- Graham Paddle Access Graham
- Haw River Trail Haw River
- Dimmocks Mill Road 920, Town Of Hillsborough
- Island Trail Alamance County
Campgrounds
- Shallow Ford Campsites
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Hagan-Stone Park
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Saxapahaw 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 Saxapahaw
Where does the data for Saxapahaw 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 Saxapahaw .