Lake Tom-A-Lex Dam dam
Lake Tom-A-Lex Dam
Lake Tom-A-Lex Dam, located in Davidson, North Carolina, serves as a vital water supply source in the region. Completed in 1957, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 43 feet with a hydraulic height of 32 feet. It boasts a storage capacity of 11,180 acre-feet, providing essential water resources for the surrounding communities. With a normal storage capacity of 8,320 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 32,000 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water supply and flood control in the area.
Managed by the local government, Lake Tom-A-Lex Dam falls under the regulatory oversight of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring stringent inspection, enforcement, and permitting measures are in place. The dam's satisfactory condition assessment and high hazard potential highlight the importance of its maintenance and emergency preparedness. Despite its age, the dam continues to fulfill its primary purpose of water supply, reflecting its critical role in supporting the region's water needs.
Situated on Abbotts Creek and covering a surface area of 650 acres, Lake Tom-A-Lex Dam not only provides essential water resources but also serves as a recreational spot for the community. With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, the dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region, making it a crucial asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Lake Tom-A-Lex Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Abbotts Creek At Lexington | 31 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Yadkin College | 876 cfs | → |
| East Fork Deep River Near High Point | 2 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Creek Nr Pomona | 1 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Enon | 670 cfs | → |
| Ryan Creek Below Us 220 At Greensboro | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Tom-A-Lex Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
- Trading Ford Way Davidson County
- Wildlife Rec Area Access Road 899, Davidson County
- Nc Highway 801 South 5877, Mocksville
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Marina Drive 298, Montgomery County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Lake Tom-A-Lex 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 Lake Tom-A-Lex Dam
Where does the data for Lake Tom-A-Lex 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 Lake Tom-A-Lex Dam.