Brewer Lake Dam dam
Brewer Lake Dam
Brewer Lake Dam, located in Union County, North Carolina, serves as a vital recreational resource for the community. Completed in 1958, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 18 feet and has a hydraulic height of 15 feet. With a storage capacity of 67 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 56 acre-feet, Brewer Lake Dam provides a surface area of 12 acres for outdoor activities and water sports.
Despite its importance for recreation, Brewer Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment as of December 2018. The dam is under the regulatory oversight of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, which conducts regular inspections and enforcement actions to ensure public safety. With a drainage area of 1197 acres and a maximum discharge capacity of 110 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and protecting downstream areas from flooding.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the significance of Brewer Lake Dam in providing recreational opportunities while also understanding the potential risks associated with its condition. By staying informed about dam safety measures and regulations, we can contribute to the preservation of this important water infrastructure and help ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
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 Brewer Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky River Nr Stanfield | 173 cfs | → |
| Goose Cr At Fairview | 14 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Sr1525 Nr Indian Trail | 1 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Sr3181 Nr Mint Hill | 2 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Near Norwood | 117 cfs | → |
| Irvins Creek At Sr3168 Nr Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brewer Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lilly’S Bridge Access Area
- Catawba Nation Greenway Trail York County
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
- State Road 1759, Lilesville
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Buck Branch
- Arrowhead Lake
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Baldwins Pond
Track Brewer 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 Brewer Lake Dam
Where does the data for Brewer 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 High 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 Brewer Lake Dam.