Lake Sparta dam
Lake Sparta
Lake Sparta, also known as Girl Scouts of Usa Dam, is a privately owned recreational lake located in Gaston, North Carolina. Managed by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, this earth dam was completed in 1982 and stands at a hydraulic height of 18.7 feet. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam has a normal storage capacity of 12 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 2 acres, drawing water from the Crowders Creek-Tr river.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Lake Sparta poses a high hazard potential, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and maintenance. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in 2015, indicating the need for updated preparedness in case of emergencies. With a history of state regulation and enforcement, the dam stands as a vital water resource for the surrounding area, while also serving as a popular recreational spot for locals and visitors alike.
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 Sparta -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Long Creek Near Bessemer City | 4 cfs | → |
| South Fork Catawba River At Lowell | 187 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Laboratory | 10 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Ab Windy Gap Road Nr Shopton | 0 cfs | → |
| Paw Cr At Wilkinson Blvd Nr Charlotte | 8 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Nr Rhyne | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Sparta.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Cleveland County
- John H. Moss Lake Recreation Park
- Wilkinson Boulevard Belmont
- East Charlotte Avenue Downtown
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
Campgrounds
- Hounds Gateway Campground
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Garner Creek
- Garner Creek Backcountry Campsite
- John H. Moss Lake City Campground
- Shelby Mission Camp
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Benfield Creek
- Buck Branch
- Pittman Lake
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
Track Lake Sparta 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 Sparta
Where does the data for Lake Sparta 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 Sparta.