Capps Dam dam
Capps Dam
Capps Dam, located in Bellemont, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Situated on Big Alamance Creek-Tr, this earth dam has a hydraulic height of 21 feet and a structural height of 24.4 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 44 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 52 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 5.3 acres and serves a drainage area of 64 square miles.
Although Capps Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently not rated for its condition, it falls under state regulations and is subject to periodic inspections by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Dam Safety Program. The last inspection was conducted in July 2017, with an inspection frequency of 5 years. The dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, and there is limited information available on risk assessment and management measures.
Enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate in Alamance County, North Carolina, may find Capps Dam an intriguing site for its recreational significance and role in water management. With its location in the Wilmington District and proximity to the Big Alamance Creek-Tr, this dam presents an opportunity to explore the intersection of human-made structures and natural water systems in the region.
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 Capps Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Haw River At Haw River | 90 cfs | → |
| Reedy Fork Near Gibsonville | 3 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek At Sr2819 Nr Mcleansville | 44 cfs | → |
| Cane Creek Near Orange Grove | 0 cfs | → |
| North Buffalo Creek Near Greensboro | 5 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Cr Near Greensboro | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Capps Dam.
Boat launches
- Graham Paddle Access Graham
- Haw River Trail Alamance County
- Haw River Trail Haw River
- Island Trail Alamance County
- Homeview Road Burlington
Campgrounds
- Shallow Ford Campsites
- Hagan-Stone Park
- Lake Reidsville Rec Park
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Capps 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 Capps Dam
Where does the data for Capps 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 Capps Dam.