Rosasco Lake Dam Upper dam
Rosasco Lake Dam Upper
Rosasco Lake Dam Upper, also known as Dexter Lake, is a private dam located in Watauga, North Carolina. Managed by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, this dam serves primarily for recreation purposes. With a structural height of 30 feet and a hydraulic height of 24 feet, it provides a storage capacity of 24 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 12 acre-feet.
Situated on Bairds Creek, this dam has a hazard potential rated as high but is currently in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in November 2020. Despite being privately owned, it falls under state jurisdiction and is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by various state agencies. Although there are no associated structures, the dam has a spillway type and width not specified in the data.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be intrigued by the unique location and design of Rosasco Lake Dam Upper, as well as its recreational purpose and high hazard potential. The dam's compliance with state regulations and its satisfactory condition offer reassurance for those concerned about its safety and maintenance. Its presence on Bairds Creek adds to the overall ecosystem and water management in the area, making it an important component of the local environment.
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 Rosasco Lake Dam Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Watauga River Near Sugar Grove | 38 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 12 cfs | → |
| Elk Creek At Elkville | 23 cfs | → |
| South Fork New River Near Jefferson | 130 cfs | → |
| Doe River At Elizabethton | 293 cfs | → |
| Watauga River At Elizabethton | 335 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rosasco Lake Dam Upper.
Boat launches
- Price Lake Trail Watauga County
- Roby Green Road Watauga County
- Stuart Williams Road Watauga County
- Big Hill Road Watauga County
- River Road Watauga County
- Castle Ford Road Ashe County
Campgrounds
- Honey Bear Campground
- Old Johns River Road
- Price Park Campground
- Julian Price - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Julian Price
- The Refuge
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Green Cove--Jefferson Nf Near Confluence Of Star Hill Branch To Confluence With Whitetop Laurel
Track Rosasco Lake Dam Upper 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 Rosasco Lake Dam Upper
Where does the data for Rosasco Lake Dam Upper 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 Rosasco Lake Dam Upper.