Derbyshire Dam dam
Derbyshire Dam
Derbyshire Dam, also known as Lake Sandy Plains Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Polk, North Carolina, specifically in the city of Collinsville. The dam is situated on Hughes Creek and falls under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. With a hydraulic height of 30 feet and a structural height of 38 feet, Derbyshire Dam primarily serves as a recreational site, offering opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the surrounding area.
Despite its recreational focus, Derbyshire Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, although its current condition is assessed as fair. The dam has a storage capacity of 99,999 acre-feet and a drainage area of 934 square miles. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last assessment taking place in March 2020, and an emergency action plan is in place to ensure preparedness in case of any unforeseen events. Overall, Derbyshire Dam stands as a vital component of the water resource infrastructure in the region, providing both recreational amenities and essential safety measures to protect the surrounding communities from potential risks associated with its operation.
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 Derbyshire Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Pacolet River Nr Campobello | 19 cfs | → |
| North Pacolet River At Fingerville | 51 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Near Fingerville | 81 cfs | → |
| Cove Creek Near Lake Lure | 33 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 8 cfs | → |
| Second Broad River Nr Logan | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Derbyshire Dam.
Boat launches
- Anchor Park
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- Hooper Lane Mills River
Campgrounds
- River Creek Camp Ground
- Creekside Mountain Camping
- Vein Mountain Gold Camp & Carolina Emerald Mine
- Lucky Strike Campground
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- Paris Mountain State Park
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Macedonia Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Bear Creek Lake
Paddle runs
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
Track Derbyshire 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 Derbyshire Dam
Where does the data for Derbyshire 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 Derbyshire Dam.