Finch's Millpond dam
Finch's Millpond
Finch's Millpond in Wilson, North Carolina, is a privately owned water resource situated along Bloomery Swamp. This recreational spot covers 38 acres with a maximum storage capacity of 469 acre-feet. The dam, classified as an Earth type, stands at a structural height of 15 feet with a hydraulic height of 13 feet. Despite its significant hazard potential, the condition assessment in 2017 deemed it unsatisfactory, highlighting the need for maintenance and improvements.
The millpond, completed in an unspecified year, serves as a popular recreational destination for locals and visitors alike, offering opportunities for fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. The dam's spillway type, spillway width, and drainage area are not specified in the available data, but its location in the Wilmington District underlines its importance in the region's water resource management. While the inspection frequency is listed as 0, the last inspection in May 2017 flagged the dam's condition as a concern due to its inadequacy.
As climate change impacts water resources, the maintenance and regulation of dams like Finch's Millpond become critical for environmental sustainability and community safety. With George Holding as the local Congressional representative, advocating for the necessary funding and oversight to ensure the dam's safety and longevity is essential. As enthusiasts of water resource management and climate resilience, understanding the intricacies of Finch's Millpond can shed light on the interconnectedness of human activities and natural ecosystems in shaping our water landscapes.
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 Finch's Millpond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Contentnea Creek Near Lucama | 38 cfs | → |
| Tar River At Nc 97 At Rocky Mount | 76 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Princeton | 5 cfs | → |
| Nahunta Swamp Near Shine | 4 cfs | → |
| Neuse River Near Clayton | 242 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek At Hilliardston | 858 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Finch's Millpond.
Boat launches
- Buffalo Creek Greenway Smithfield
- Highway 33 3000-3432, Tarboro
- Highway 222 3029, Fountain
- 777-1799 Ferry Bridge Rd, Grantham, Nc
- Neuse River Trail Wake County
- Neuse River Trail Raleigh
Track Finch's Millpond 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 Finch's Millpond
Where does the data for Finch's Millpond 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 Finch's Millpond.