Lake Falmouth Dam dam
Lake Falmouth Dam
Lake Falmouth Dam, located in Forsyth, North Carolina, is a vital water resource managed by the local government for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a hydraulic height of 26.7 feet and a structural height of 30.5 feet, with a length of 300 feet. It provides a storage capacity of 112 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 75 acres. Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, the dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, ensuring its safety and reliability.
Surrounded by the Ellison Creek-Tr river/stream, Lake Falmouth Dam poses a significant risk if not properly maintained and managed. The dam has a history of two inspections per year, with the latest assessment in January 2021, indicating a fair condition. While the dam lacks certain features such as spillways and outlet gates, its primary purpose of recreation attracts visitors to its 7-acre surface area for various water activities. With a designated emergency action plan and high hazard potential, the dam's safety remains a top priority for the local government and regulatory agencies.
In the event of an emergency, Lake Falmouth Dam's emergency action plan is crucial to mitigate risks and ensure public safety. While the dam's risk assessment and management measures are not specified, its compliance with state regulations and frequent inspections suggest a proactive approach to dam safety. As a key water resource in the region, Lake Falmouth Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water management practices and the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to prevent potential hazards and ensure the well-being of the surrounding community and 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 Lake Falmouth Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yadkin River At Enon | 670 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Yadkin College | 876 cfs | → |
| Little Yadkin River At Dalton | 7 cfs | → |
| Hunting Creek Near Harmony | 50 cfs | → |
| South Yadkin River Near Mocksville | 74 cfs | → |
| Abbotts Creek At Lexington | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Falmouth Dam.
Boat launches
- Nc Highway 801 South 5877, Mocksville
- Campground Trail Yadkin County
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Trading Ford Way Davidson County
- Pine Hall Road 2547-2793, Walnut Cove
Campgrounds
- Tanglewood Park
- Pilot Mountain State Park
- Ymca Camp Hanes
- Hanging Rock State Park
- Oak Hollow City Campground
- Sunset Park Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lake Falmouth 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 Lake Falmouth Dam
Where does the data for Lake Falmouth 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 Lake Falmouth Dam.