Long Lake Dam dam
Long Lake Dam
Long Lake Dam, also known as City Lake Dam, is a concrete gravity dam located in Albemarle, North Carolina. Built in 1915, this dam serves as a crucial water supply source for the area, with a storage capacity of 1397 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 833 acre-feet. Situated on Long Creek, the dam has a structural height of 30.6 feet and a hydraulic height of 26 feet, with a maximum discharge capacity of 7900 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the local government, Long Lake Dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. The dam is considered to have a high hazard potential, but its condition was assessed as fair during the last inspection in December 2020. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide essential water supply services to the community, showcasing the importance of proper maintenance and regulation for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources in the face of changing climate conditions.
With its historical significance and critical role in water supply management, Long Lake Dam stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to balance environmental and infrastructural needs in the face of climate challenges. As enthusiasts of water resources and climate sustainability, understanding the complexities and importance of structures like Long Lake Dam is key to advocating for responsible stewardship of our natural resources and ensuring the resilience of our communities in the face of a changing climate.
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 Long Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky River Near Norwood | 117 cfs | → |
| Rocky R Ab Irish Buffalo Cr Nr Rocky River | 45 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Nr Stanfield | 173 cfs | → |
| Goose Cr At Fairview | 14 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Sr3181 Nr Mint Hill | 2 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Star | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Long Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Badin Lake Boat Ramp
- Falls Road Stanly County
- Morrow Mountain Boat Launch
- Old Whitney Boat Ramp
- Marina Drive 298, Montgomery County
- Cove Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Morrow Mountain State Park
- Deep Water Trailt Horse Camp
- Art Lilley Campground
- Arrowhead
- Arrowhead Campground
- Woodrun
Fishing spots
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Abbotts Creek
- Arrowhead Lake
- Buddle Branch
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
- Buck Branch
Track Long 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 Long Lake Dam
Where does the data for Long 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 Long Lake Dam.