Smith Lake Dam dam
Smith Lake Dam
Smith Lake Dam, located in Cabarrus, North Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Standing at a structural height of 20 feet and a hydraulic height of 16 feet, this dam was completed in 1951 and has a storage capacity of 169 acre-feet. The dam spans a length of 660 feet and is situated on Little Meadow Creek-Tr, with a drainage area of 192 square miles.
Despite not being state regulated, Smith Lake Dam is subject to inspections to ensure its safety and integrity. The dam poses a significant hazard potential and its condition assessment is currently not rated. The last inspection was conducted in November 2018, with no emergency action plan (EAP) in place. While the dam does not have associated structures or locks, it serves as a recreational spot for the community and offers a surface area of 15 acres for various water activities.
In the realm of water resource and climate enthusiasts, Smith Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned recreational dam in North Carolina. With its historical significance dating back to the early 1950s, the dam continues to provide a serene environment for water enthusiasts to enjoy. As discussions around dam safety and risk management persist, Smith Lake Dam stands as a noteworthy example of the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety of such structures in the face of potential hazards.
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 Smith Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky R Ab Irish Buffalo Cr Nr Rocky River | 45 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Nr Stanfield | 173 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Sr3181 Nr Mint Hill | 2 cfs | → |
| Goose Cr At Fairview | 14 cfs | → |
| Reedy Creek At Sr 2803 Nr Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
| Mallard Cr Bl Stony Cr Nr Harrisburg | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Smith Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Badin Lake Boat Ramp
- Old Whitney Boat Ramp
- Marina Drive 298, Montgomery County
- Falls Road Stanly County
- Morrow Mountain Boat Launch
- Cove Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Morrow Mountain State Park
- Deep Water Trailt Horse Camp
- Art Lilley Campground
- Badin Lake Capmground Upper Loop
- Arrowhead
- Badin Lake
Fishing spots
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Abbotts Creek
- Buck Branch
- Buddle Branch
- Arrowhead Lake
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
Track Smith 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 Smith Lake Dam
Where does the data for Smith 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 Significant 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 Smith Lake Dam.