Gaston - North Saddle dam
Gaston - North Saddle
Located in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, Gaston - North Saddle is a rockfill dam with a height of 14.1 meters and a length of 300 meters. Completed in 1963, this hydroelectric structure serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife pond, recreation, and water supply. With a storage capacity of 513,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 20,300 acres, this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
Owned by a public utility and regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Gaston - North Saddle has a high hazard potential due to its location and hydraulic height. While the condition assessment is listed as not available, regular inspections are conducted to ensure the safety and functionality of the dam. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide valuable services to the community and remains a key component of the local water infrastructure.
As a significant feature on the Roanoke River, Gaston - North Saddle offers a glimpse into the intersection of water resource management and climate adaptation. With its diverse range of purposes and high-risk profile, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring critical infrastructure in the face of changing environmental conditions. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Gaston - North Saddle represents a case study in resilience and the ongoing challenges of balancing human needs with environmental stewardship in a rapidly changing world.
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 Gaston - North Saddle -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Roanoke River At Roanoke Rapids | 2,260 cfs | → |
| Meherrin River Near Lawrenceville | 53 cfs | → |
| Meherrin River At Emporia | 95 cfs | → |
| Little Fishing Creek Near White Oak | 7 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Near Enfield | 27 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek At Hilliardston | 858 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gaston - North Saddle .
Boat launches
- Summit Landing At Lake Gaston
- Van Warren Road Halifax County
- Wildlife Landing Northampton County
- River Road Warren County
- Salmon Landing Road, Littleton
- West 5th Street 1724-1728, Roanoke Rapids
Track Gaston - North Saddle 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 Gaston - North Saddle
Where does the data for Gaston - North Saddle 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 Gaston - North Saddle .