Watts Lake Dam dam
Watts Lake Dam
Watts Lake Dam, located in Alexander, North Carolina, is a private earth dam that was completed in 1948 for the primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a structural height of 31 feet with a hydraulic height of 27 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 87 acre-feet. Although not state regulated, the dam is inspected regularly, with the last assessment taking place in September 2017, revealing a low hazard potential and an overall condition that has not been rated.
Situated on the South Yadkin River-Tr, Watts Lake Dam spans 250 feet in length and covers a surface area of 7 acres. Despite its age, the dam has not undergone any modifications over the years and does not have any associated structures. While it does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place or inundation maps prepared, the dam is considered to be low risk, reflecting its stable and well-maintained condition. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Watts Lake Dam offers a fascinating example of a historical earth dam that continues to serve its recreational purpose with efficiency and safety in mind.
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 Watts Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Little River Nr All Healing Springs | 10 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Wilkesboro | 354 cfs | → |
| Reddies River At North Wilkesboro | 34 cfs | → |
| Elk Creek At Elkville | 26 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Elkin | 505 cfs | → |
| Hunting Creek Near Harmony | 61 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Watts Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Gunpowder Boat Ramp
- Campground Trail Yadkin County
- Weaver Lane Burke County
- Nc 16 3350, Jefferson
- Stuart Williams Road Watauga County
- Castle Ford Road Ashe County
Campgrounds
- Fulda Gap / Cef Dragoons Hq
- Rendezvous Mountain Group Camp
- Obids Creek Campsite
- Sandy Creek Family Campground
- Stone Mountain State Park
- Deep Gap Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Green Cove--Jefferson Nf Near Confluence Of Star Hill Branch To Confluence With Whitetop Laurel
Track Watts Lake 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 Watts Lake Dam
Where does the data for Watts Lake 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 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 Watts Lake Dam.