Fox Pond Dam dam
Fox Pond Dam
Fox Pond Dam, located in Walnut Cove, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure on Watts Creek primarily used for recreation. Built in 1950, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 23.5 feet and a hydraulic height of 17.5 feet, with a length of 280 feet. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 42 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 56 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 1042 acres.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and being in "Not Rated" condition as of the last inspection in January 2015, Fox Pond Dam is not regulated by the state and has no state permitting or enforcement requirements. The dam does not have a spillway or outlet gates and has not been modified since its completion. Furthermore, the dam lacks emergency action plans and risk assessment measures, highlighting potential areas for improvement in its management and safety protocols.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Fox Pond Dam can appreciate its historical significance in providing recreational opportunities while also recognizing the need for enhanced safety measures and regulatory oversight to ensure the continued integrity and resilience of this important water management structure in Stokes County.
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 Fox Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Dan R At Pine Hall | 140 cfs | → |
| Little Yadkin River At Dalton | 7 cfs | → |
| Dan River Near Francisco | 59 cfs | → |
| Reedy Fork Near Oak Ridge | 3 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Enon | 670 cfs | → |
| South Mayo River Near Nettleridge | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fox Pond 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
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
Campgrounds
- Sunset Park Campground
- Hanging Rock State Park
- Ymca Camp Hanes
- Pilot Mountain State Park
- Tanglewood Park
- Oak Hollow City Campground
Fishing spots
Track Fox Pond 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 Fox Pond Dam
Where does the data for Fox Pond 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 Fox Pond Dam.