Bonsal Company Lake Dam dam
Bonsal Company Lake Dam
Bonsal Company Lake Dam, located in Cheraw, SC, is a privately owned structure regulated by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program. Completed in 1955, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 14 feet and serves primarily for water supply purposes, with a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 51 acre-feet. The dam spans a length of 960 feet and is situated along McCoy Creek, covering a surface area of 12 acres within a drainage area of 64 square miles.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Bonsal Company Lake Dam received a fair condition assessment during its last inspection in August 2020. The dam is subject to regular state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a history of serving as a vital water resource for the region, this dam plays a crucial role in providing water supply to the surrounding area while maintaining a manageable risk level for potential hazards.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the details of Bonsal Company Lake Dam offer insight into the intricate balance between water management, infrastructure maintenance, and environmental stewardship. With its location in Anson County, North Carolina, this dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and natural resource utilization in the face of changing climate dynamics. By understanding the history, purpose, and current condition of structures like Bonsal Company Lake Dam, enthusiasts can appreciate the complex interplay between water resources, infrastructure resilience, and regulatory oversight in safeguarding our communities for generations to come.
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 Bonsal Company Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pee Dee R Nr Rockingham | 1,900 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Near Norwood | 112 cfs | → |
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 14 cfs | → |
| Pee Dee River Nr Bennettsville | 2,050 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Star | 5 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Nr Stanfield | 173 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bonsal Company Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- State Road 1759, Lilesville
- West Us 74 Highway 1333, Rockingham
- Lilly’S Bridge Access Area
- Morrow Mountain Boat Launch
- Falls Road Stanly County
Campgrounds
- Cheraw State Park
- Woodrun
- Yates Place Camp
- H. Cooper Black
- Williams Farm
- Sugarloaf Mountain Rec Area - Sand Hills State Forest
Fishing spots
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
- Arrowhead Lake
- Baldwins Pond
- Broadacres Lake
- Broadacres Lakes
- Big Branch
Track Bonsal Company 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 Bonsal Company Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bonsal Company 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 Bonsal Company Lake Dam.