Griffith Dam #1 dam
Griffith Dam #1
Griffith Dam #1, located in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, along the Mallard Creek-Tr River, was completed in 1958 and is privately owned for recreational purposes. This earth dam stands at a structural height of 32 feet with a hydraulic height of 29 feet, providing a normal storage capacity of 106 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 234 acre-feet. The dam's surface area covers 19.2 acres and serves a drainage area of 237 square miles, with a maximum discharge capacity of 587 cubic feet per second.
Despite being privately owned, Griffith Dam #1 is subject to state regulation and inspection by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. The dam has a high hazard potential but was assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of December 2019. Emergency action plans are in place, although details on their preparation and adherence to guidelines are unclear. Griffith Dam #1 remains a significant water resource structure in the region, providing both recreational opportunities and essential water management functions within the state's regulatory framework.
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 Griffith Dam #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Irwin Cr At Statesville Ave At Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
| Gar Creek At Sr2074 Nr Croft | · | → |
| Long Creek Near Paw Creek | 2 cfs | → |
| Mallard Cr Bl Stony Cr Nr Harrisburg | 5 cfs | → |
| Stewart Creek At State St At Charlotte | 13 cfs | → |
| Briar Creek Near Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Griffith Dam #1.
Boat launches
- Neck Road 5744, Huntersville
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
- Nc 73 Mecklenburg County
- East Charlotte Avenue Downtown
- Wilkinson Boulevard Belmont
- Shipley Lane Lincoln County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Buck Branch
- Abbotts Creek
- Benfield Creek
- Buddle Branch
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
Track Griffith Dam #1 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 Griffith Dam #1
Where does the data for Griffith Dam #1 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 Griffith Dam #1.