Bonsal Tailings Dam dam
Bonsal Tailings Dam
Located in Morven, North Carolina, the Bonsal Tailings Dam is a privately owned structure designed for tailings management. Built in 1976, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 61 feet and a structural height of 63 feet, with a length of 6900 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 1890 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 75 acres, serving the primary purpose of tailings containment.
Regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, the Bonsal Tailings Dam has been deemed to have a high hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in fair condition. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last assessment taking place in August 2020. Despite its age, the dam continues to meet state permitting and inspection requirements, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find the Bonsal Tailings Dam an intriguing subject for study, given its historical significance and ongoing management. Situated along the Island Creek-Tr river, this structure represents a vital component of the region's infrastructure, highlighting the intersection of natural resource management and human development in North Carolina.
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 Bonsal Tailings Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pee Dee R Nr Rockingham | 1,900 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Near Norwood | 112 cfs | → |
| Pee Dee River Nr Bennettsville | 2,050 cfs | → |
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 14 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Star | 5 cfs | → |
| Black Creek Near Mcbee | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bonsal Tailings Dam.
Boat launches
- West Us 74 Highway 1333, Rockingham
- State Road 1759, Lilesville
- Lilly’S Bridge Access Area
- Morrow Mountain Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Cheraw State Park
- Woodrun
- H. Cooper Black
- Sugarloaf Mountain Rec Area - Sand Hills State Forest
- Williams Farm
- Yates Place Camp
Fishing spots
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
- Arrowhead Lake
- Baldwins Pond
- Broadacres Lake
- Broadacres Lakes
- Big Branch
Track Bonsal Tailings 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 Bonsal Tailings Dam
Where does the data for Bonsal Tailings 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 Bonsal Tailings Dam.