Long Shoals Lake Dam dam
Long Shoals Lake Dam
Long Shoals Lake Dam, located in the city of Long Shoals, North Carolina, is a private dam constructed in 1901 for hydroelectric purposes on the South Fork River. With a structural height of 13 feet and a length of 350 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 30 acres. Despite being privately owned, the dam is not regulated by the state and has a low hazard potential.
The dam, managed by LINCO-004, falls under the jurisdiction of the Wilmington District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. While it has not been rated for its condition, the dam underwent its last inspection in October 2014 and is deemed to be in a satisfactory state. With a maximum discharge capacity of 990 cubic feet per second, the dam serves as an important structure for water resource management and hydroelectric power generation in the region. Its historical significance and functional design make Long Shoals Lake Dam a key asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts in North Carolina.
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 Long Shoals Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Creek Near Laboratory | 70 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Near Bessemer City | 43 cfs | → |
| South Fork Catawba River At Lowell | 450 cfs | → |
| Killian Creek Near Mariposa | 44 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Nr Rhyne | 6 cfs | → |
| Mcdowell Creek Nr Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Long Shoals Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Cleveland County
- John H. Moss Lake Recreation Park
- East Charlotte Avenue Downtown
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
- Nc 73 Mecklenburg County
- Shipley Lane Lincoln County
Campgrounds
- Hounds Gateway Campground
- John H. Moss Lake City Campground
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Shelby Mission Camp
- Garner Creek
- Garner Creek Backcountry Campsite
Fishing spots
Track Long Shoals Lake 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 Long Shoals Lake Dam
Where does the data for Long Shoals Lake 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 Long Shoals Lake Dam.