Lake Desmond Dam dam
Lake Desmond Dam
Lake Desmond Dam, located in High Rock, North Carolina, is a key water resource managed by the local government for recreational purposes. Built in 1967, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 22 feet and boasts a hydraulic height of 18 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 18.5 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 1.8 acres, serving as a vital part of the Ellison Creek-Tr watershed.
With a significant hazard potential and being rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, Lake Desmond Dam is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and integrity. The last inspection took place in November 2020, and the dam is under state jurisdiction with no regulatory agency overseeing its operations. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide essential water storage for the local community.
Water and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Lake Desmond Dam not only for its functional importance but also for its recreational value. Situated in a picturesque setting in Forsyth County, this dam offers opportunities for outdoor activities and serves as a hub for water-related events in the region. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and proper management of Lake Desmond Dam will be crucial in ensuring its continued effectiveness in water storage and recreation.
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 Desmond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yadkin River At Enon | 670 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Yadkin College | 876 cfs | → |
| Little Yadkin River At Dalton | 7 cfs | → |
| Hunting Creek Near Harmony | 50 cfs | → |
| South Yadkin River Near Mocksville | 74 cfs | → |
| Abbotts Creek At Lexington | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Desmond Dam.
Boat launches
- Nc Highway 801 South 5877, Mocksville
- Campground Trail Yadkin County
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Trading Ford Way Davidson County
- Pine Hall Road 2547-2793, Walnut Cove
Campgrounds
- Tanglewood Park
- Pilot Mountain State Park
- Ymca Camp Hanes
- Hanging Rock State Park
- Oak Hollow City Campground
- Sunset Park Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lake Desmond 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 Desmond Dam
Where does the data for Lake Desmond 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 Significant 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 Desmond Dam.