Dobbs Lake Dam #1 dam
Dobbs Lake Dam #1
Dobbs Lake Dam #1, located in South Gastonia, North Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1969 with a primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a structural height of 20 feet and a hydraulic height of 17 feet, the dam spans a length of 700 feet and has a storage capacity of 53 acre-feet. Situated on the Crowders Creek-Tr river, the dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts seeking recreational activities in a picturesque setting.
Despite not being state regulated, Dobbs Lake Dam #1 is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and integrity. With a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," with the last inspection conducted in November 2018. The dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and other management measures are not specified in the available data. Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find this dam intriguing for its recreational value and potential environmental impact in the region.
As a vital component of the Wilmington District in North Carolina, Dobbs Lake Dam #1 offers a glimpse into the intersection of human-made structures, water resources, and natural landscapes. With its historical significance dating back to the late 1960s, the dam provides a unique opportunity for individuals interested in exploring the dynamics of dam construction, management, and safety protocols in a non-state regulated context. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the intricacies of managing a privately owned dam for recreational purposes while ensuring its continued safety and environmental impact within the local ecosystem.
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 Dobbs Lake Dam #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Catawba River At Lowell | 187 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Near Bessemer City | 4 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Ab Windy Gap Road Nr Shopton | 0 cfs | → |
| Paw Cr At Wilkinson Blvd Nr Charlotte | 7 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Nr Rhyne | 10 cfs | → |
| Taggart Creek At West Boulevard Nr Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dobbs Lake Dam #1.
Boat launches
- Wilkinson Boulevard Belmont
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- East Charlotte Avenue Downtown
- Boatshore Road York County
- Windward Drive Tega Cay
Campgrounds
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Hounds Gateway Campground
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Garner Creek
- Garner Creek Backcountry Campsite
- Ebenezer County Park
Track Dobbs Lake Dam #1 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 Dobbs Lake Dam #1
Where does the data for Dobbs Lake Dam #1 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 Dobbs Lake Dam #1.