Apple Dam dam
Apple Dam
Apple Dam, nestled in Elon College, North Carolina, along the Travis Creek-Tr river, stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of human ingenuity and natural beauty. Managed by a private entity, this earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering visitors a serene retreat amidst its picturesque surroundings. With a hydraulic height of 16 feet and a structural height of 20 feet, Apple Dam provides a tranquil oasis with a surface area of 6.9 acres and a storage capacity of 44 acre-feet.
Although classified as having a significant hazard potential, Apple Dam's condition assessment remains fair, with the last inspection conducted in October 2016. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, reflecting its simple yet effective design for managing water flow. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, Apple Dam continues to be a beloved destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking solace in nature's embrace. As a vital component of the local ecosystem, this dam serves as a beacon of conservation and recreation in Alamance County, North Carolina.
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 Apple Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Reedy Fork Near Gibsonville | 3 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek At Sr2819 Nr Mcleansville | 51 cfs | → |
| Haw River At Haw River | 90 cfs | → |
| North Buffalo Creek Near Greensboro | 5 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Cr Near Greensboro | 3 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 Apple Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Haw River Trail Alamance County
- Island Trail Alamance County
- Homeview Road Burlington
- Haw River Trail Haw River
- Graham Paddle Access Graham
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
More paddle runs →Track Apple 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 Apple Dam
Where does the data for Apple 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 Significant 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 Apple Dam.