Waddell Lake Dam dam
Waddell Lake Dam
Situated in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, Waddell Lake Dam stands as a serene oasis along Beaverdam Creek-Tr, offering a tranquil setting for recreation enthusiasts. This private dam, completed in 1956, boasts an earth structure with a hydraulic height of 18 feet and a structural height of 20 feet. With a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet, the dam provides a surface area of 4 acres for visitors to enjoy various water activities.
Despite its low hazard potential, Waddell Lake Dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in January 2019. While its condition remains unrated, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose of recreation, attracting locals and tourists alike to Red River Sc. With a drainage area of 154 square miles and a maximum discharge of 23 cubic feet per second, this picturesque dam serves as a vital water resource within the Wilmington District.
As climate change intensifies, the importance of maintaining and monitoring water resources like Waddell Lake Dam becomes increasingly paramount. With its rich history, scenic surroundings, and recreational offerings, this dam exemplifies the harmonious coexistence of human enjoyment and environmental stewardship in North Carolina's diverse landscape.
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 Waddell Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Paw Cr At Wilkinson Blvd Nr Charlotte | 7 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Ab Windy Gap Road Nr Shopton | 0 cfs | → |
| Taggart Creek At West Boulevard Nr Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
| Irwin Creek Near Charlotte | 17 cfs | → |
| Coffey Creek Nr Charlotte | 2 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Nr Rhyne | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Waddell Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Wilkinson Boulevard Belmont
- East Charlotte Avenue Downtown
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
- Neck Road 5744, Huntersville
Campgrounds
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Ebenezer County Park
- Sign Language
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Hounds Gateway Campground
- Garner Creek
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Buck Branch
- Benfield Creek
- Abbotts Creek
- Pittman Lake
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
Paddle runs
Track Waddell 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 Waddell Lake Dam
Where does the data for Waddell 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 Waddell Lake Dam.