Caldwell Lake dam
Caldwell Lake
Caldwell Lake, located in Harrisburg, North Carolina, is a privately-owned recreational water resource managed by the Wilmington District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. With a surface area of 4 acres and a drainage area of 25.6 acres, this earth dam structure has a hydraulic height of 16 feet and a structural height of 20 feet. The lake offers a maximum storage capacity of 32 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 25.6 acre-feet.
Despite its fair condition assessment as of October 2020, Caldwell Lake poses a significant hazard potential due to its proximity to Back Creek-Tr and its significant storage capacity. The dam structure has not been modified in recent years, and its last inspection reported fair conditions. Although there is no state regulation or permitting in place for this dam, regular inspections are conducted to ensure its safety and integrity. Additionally, there is no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, raising concerns about emergency preparedness in case of a potential failure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Caldwell Lake offers a unique opportunity for outdoor recreation in Mecklenburg County. As a privately-owned facility with no federal funding or regulatory oversight, the lake serves as a prime example of community-managed water resources. Its location along Back Creek-Tr provides a serene setting for fishing, boating, and other water-based activities. While the dam's condition is fair and its hazard potential is significant, continued monitoring and maintenance efforts are essential to ensure the safety of visitors and nearby residents.
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 Caldwell Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard Cr Bl Stony Cr Nr Harrisburg | 5 cfs | → |
| Reedy Creek At Sr 2803 Nr Charlotte | · | → |
| Briar Creek Near Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
| Irwin Cr At Statesville Ave At Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
| Clarke Creek Near Harrisburg | 2 cfs | → |
| Campbell Creek Nr Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Caldwell Lake.
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
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Buddle Branch
- Arrowhead Lake
Track Caldwell Lake 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 Caldwell Lake
Where does the data for Caldwell Lake 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 Caldwell Lake.