Pilot Life Dam dam
Pilot Life Dam
Pilot Life Dam, located in Guilford, North Carolina, is a private earth dam built in 1953 primarily for recreation purposes along the Reddicks Creek. With a hydraulic height of 23.5 feet and a structural height of 25.5 feet, this dam stands at 545 feet in length and has a storage capacity of 99 acre-feet. The dam is owned and regulated by the NC Dam Safety Program, with regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Pilot Life Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its proximity to the city of Randleman and the potential impact of a dam failure on downstream areas. The dam is equipped with emergency action plans, but the last revision date is unknown. With a maximum discharge of 404 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water resource management in the region. However, its maintenance and risk management measures should be closely monitored to ensure the safety of nearby communities and the preservation of the surrounding environment.
As a popular spot for recreational activities, Pilot Life Dam offers a surface area of 8 acres and a drainage area of 74 square miles. Its normal storage capacity of 69 acre-feet provides opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities for visitors. With ongoing inspections and risk assessments, the dam serves as a vital resource for both water management and outdoor recreation in Guilford County.
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 Pilot Life Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Buffalo Creek Nr Pomona | 1 cfs | → |
| East Fork Deep River Near High Point | 2 cfs | → |
| Ryan Creek Below Us 220 At Greensboro | 0 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Creek At Us 220 At Greensboro | 2 cfs | → |
| N Buffalo Cr At Westover Terrace At Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
| North Buffalo Creek At Church St At Greensboro | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pilot Life Dam.
Boat launches
- Homeview Road Burlington
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
- Pine Hall Road 2547-2793, Walnut Cove
- Haw River Trail Alamance County
- Island Trail Alamance County
Campgrounds
- Oak Hollow City Campground
- Hagan-Stone Park
- Lake Reidsville Rec Park
- Shallow Ford Campsites
- Tanglewood Park
- Sunset Park Campground
Fishing spots
Track Pilot Life 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 Pilot Life Dam
Where does the data for Pilot Life 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 Pilot Life Dam.