Hardins dam
Hardins
Hardins, located in Gaston, North Carolina, is a privately owned masonry dam built in 1895 for hydroelectric purposes on the South Fork Catawba River. With a structural height of 17 feet and a hydraulic height of 14 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 77 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.9 acres, serving a drainage area of 534 square miles. The dam is primarily regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), with inspection frequencies every 3 years and a low hazard potential rating.
Despite its age, Hardins has a moderate risk assessment rating and lacks detailed risk management measures. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 219 feet, and it has not been significantly modified in recent years. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in December 2020, but its adherence to guidelines and the preparation of inundation maps remain unclear. Overall, Hardins presents an intriguing case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and assessment of historic dams in the United States.
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 Hardins -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Creek Near Laboratory | 70 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Near Bessemer City | 43 cfs | → |
| South Fork Catawba River At Lowell | 450 cfs | → |
| Killian Creek Near Mariposa | 44 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Nr Rhyne | 6 cfs | → |
| Mcdowell Creek Nr Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hardins .
Boat launches
- East Charlotte Avenue Downtown
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
- Nc 73 Mecklenburg County
- Wilkinson Boulevard Belmont
- Neck Road 5744, Huntersville
- Shipley Lane Lincoln County
Campgrounds
- Hounds Gateway Campground
- John H. Moss Lake City Campground
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Garner Creek
- Garner Creek Backcountry Campsite
Fishing spots
Track Hardins 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 Hardins
Where does the data for Hardins 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 Hardins .