Brinkley Dam dam
Brinkley Dam
Brinkley Dam, located in Lexington, North Carolina, serves multiple purposes such as fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. This privately owned earth dam was completed in 1984 and spans 378 feet in length with a hydraulic height of 24.1 feet and a structural height of 26.9 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 17 acre-feet, with normal storage levels reaching 11 acre-feet.
Despite being classified as having low hazard potential, Brinkley Dam received a fair condition assessment during its last inspection in September 2014. The dam is situated on Swearing Creek-Tr and falls under the jurisdiction of the Wilmington District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. While the dam is not regulated by the state, it does undergo regular inspections to ensure its integrity and safety.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Brinkley Dam to be an intriguing structure due to its unique combination of purposes and modest dimensions. The dam's location in Davidson County, its ownership status, and its functional design make it a notable feature in the local landscape. As a contributing factor to water management in the area, Brinkley Dam plays a significant role in supporting various ecological and human activities.
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 Brinkley Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Abbotts Creek At Lexington | 31 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Yadkin College | 876 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Enon | 670 cfs | → |
| East Fork Deep River Near High Point | 2 cfs | → |
| Second Creek Near Barber | 17 cfs | → |
| South Yadkin River Near Mocksville | 74 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brinkley Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
- Trading Ford Way Davidson County
- Nc Highway 801 South 5877, Mocksville
- Wildlife Rec Area Access Road 899, Davidson County
- Marina Drive 298, Montgomery County
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
Campgrounds
- Tanglewood Park
- Oak Hollow City Campground
- Camp 7
- Hagan-Stone Park
- Badin Lake Group Camp
- Badin Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Track Brinkley 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 Brinkley Dam
Where does the data for Brinkley 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 Brinkley Dam.