Hanging Rock State Park Dam dam
Hanging Rock State Park Dam
Hanging Rock State Park Dam, located in Stokes, North Carolina, is a concrete gravity dam completed in 1938 primarily for recreational purposes. With a hydraulic height of 33 feet and a structural height of 38 feet, the dam sits along Cascade Creek-Tr, offering a serene backdrop to visitors exploring the park. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 140 acre-feet and a drainage area of 450 square miles, providing essential water resources for the surrounding ecosystem.
Despite its fair condition assessment as of March 2021, Hanging Rock State Park Dam poses a high hazard potential, necessitating regular inspections and maintenance to ensure public safety. The dam's last inspection in March 2021 revealed that it meets state regulations and is subject to oversight by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. With a storage capacity of 290 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 1855 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore Hanging Rock State Park, they can appreciate the engineering marvel of the dam and its significance in providing recreational opportunities, maintaining ecological balance, and safeguarding against potential hazards. With its picturesque setting and historical importance, the dam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human development and environmental stewardship in managing water resources for future generations.
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 Hanging Rock State Park Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Dan River Near Francisco | 65 cfs | → |
| Little Yadkin River At Dalton | 7 cfs | → |
| Dan R At Pine Hall | 143 cfs | → |
| South Mayo River Near Nettleridge | 31 cfs | → |
| Ararat River At Ararat | 120 cfs | → |
| Mayo River Near Price | 113 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hanging Rock State Park Dam.
Boat launches
- Pine Hall Road 2547-2793, Walnut Cove
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Us Bus 220 Boat Access Stoneville
- Bethlehem Church Road 587, Eden
Campgrounds
- Hanging Rock State Park
- Sunset Park Campground
- Ymca Camp Hanes
- Pilot Mountain State Park
- Willville Motorcycle Campground
- Tanglewood Park
Fishing spots
Track Hanging Rock State Park 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 Hanging Rock State Park Dam
Where does the data for Hanging Rock State Park 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 Hanging Rock State Park Dam.