Merchants Lake Dam Upper dam
Merchants Lake Dam Upper
Merchants Lake Dam Upper, located in Guilford County, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves the primary purpose of recreation. This earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 30 feet and a structural height of 29.3 feet, with a length of 253 feet and a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the East Belews Creek-Tr and is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, with the last inspection conducted in October 2014. The inspection frequency is set at 5 years, highlighting the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. Climate and water resource enthusiasts may find interest in the challenges and opportunities associated with managing and improving the condition of Merchants Lake Dam Upper to mitigate potential risks and enhance its recreational and environmental benefits for the community.
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 Merchants Lake Dam Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Reedy Fork Near Oak Ridge | 2 cfs | → |
| Dan R At Pine Hall | 145 cfs | → |
| Horsepen Creek At Us 220 Nr Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
| East Fork Deep River Near High Point | 2 cfs | → |
| N Buffalo Cr At Westover Terrace At Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
| Dan River Near Wentworth | 290 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Merchants Lake Dam Upper.
Boat launches
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Pine Hall Road 2547-2793, Walnut Cove
- Us Bus 220 Boat Access Stoneville
- Bethlehem Church Road 587, Eden
- South Fieldcrest Road Draper Village
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
Campgrounds
- Sunset Park Campground
- Oak Hollow City Campground
- Hanging Rock State Park
- Lake Reidsville Rec Park
- Ymca Camp Hanes
- Hagan-Stone Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Merchants 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 Merchants Lake Dam Upper
Where does the data for Merchants 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 Low 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 Merchants Lake Dam Upper.