Buckhorn Lake Dam dam
Buckhorn Lake Dam
Buckhorn Lake Dam in Guilford, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves as a vital resource for recreation in the area. Completed in 1960, this Earth-type dam has a hydraulic height of 17 feet and a structural height of 20 feet, with a length of 1200 feet. The dam has a maximum storage capacity of 56 acre-feet and a normal storage of 48 acre-feet, providing a surface area of 7 acres for water-based activities.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Buckhorn Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance. The state regulatory agency, NCDEQ's Dam Safety Program, oversees the dam's permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes to ensure public safety. Located on Reedy Fork Creek-Tr, the dam's emergency action plan readiness and risk assessment measures are currently unspecified, indicating a need for further evaluation and preparation.
As a significant water resource in the area, Buckhorn Lake Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for the community. With its high hazard potential and fair condition, continued monitoring and maintenance are essential to safeguarding the dam's integrity and protecting the surrounding area from potential risks associated with dam failure.
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 Buckhorn Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Reedy Fork Near Gibsonville | 2 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek At Sr2819 Nr Mcleansville | 25 cfs | → |
| North Buffalo Creek Near Greensboro | 4 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Cr Near Greensboro | 3 cfs | → |
| North Buffalo Creek At Church St At Greensboro | 3 cfs | → |
| N Buffalo Cr At Westover Terrace At Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buckhorn Lake Dam.
Track Buckhorn 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 Buckhorn Lake Dam
Where does the data for Buckhorn 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 Buckhorn Lake Dam.