Capelsie Lake Dam dam
Capelsie Lake Dam
Capelsie Lake Dam, located in Capelsie, North Carolina, is a privately owned concrete dam constructed in 1889 on the Little River. With a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a structural height of 15 feet, the dam has a capacity to store 144 acre-feet of water, with a normal storage level of 120 acre-feet. The dam spans 335 feet in length and covers a surface area of 30 acres, serving the purpose of water resource management.
Although not state regulated, Capelsie Lake Dam is inspected periodically by the state to ensure its fair condition and low hazard potential. The last inspection was conducted in May 2013, with a satisfactory assessment. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment details are currently unavailable, but it meets guidelines for safe operation. Despite its age, the dam remains a vital structure for water storage and management in the region, contributing to the overall health of the Little River watershed.
Overall, Capelsie Lake Dam stands as a historic yet functional infrastructure in the water resource management system of Montgomery County, North Carolina. With its low hazard potential and fair condition, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose efficiently. As climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to monitor the upkeep and safety of such dams to ensure the sustainable management of water resources amidst changing environmental conditions.
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 Capelsie Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Star | 5 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Near Norwood | 112 cfs | → |
| Pee Dee R Nr Rockingham | 1,900 cfs | → |
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 14 cfs | → |
| Deep River At Ramseur | 13 cfs | → |
| Tick Creek Near Mount Vernon Springs | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Capelsie Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Morrow Mountain Boat Launch
- Lilly’S Bridge Access Area
- Falls Road Stanly County
- Cove Boat Ramp
- Badin Lake Boat Ramp
- Old Whitney Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Yates Place Camp
- East Morris Mountain
- Woodrun
- West Morris Mtn.
- West Morris Mtn. Campground
- Uwharrie Hunt Camp
Fishing spots
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
- Arrowhead Lake
- Big Branch
- Broadacres Lake
- Broadacres Lakes
Track Capelsie 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 Capelsie Lake Dam
Where does the data for Capelsie 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 Capelsie Lake Dam.