Irwin Creek Overflow Lagoon dam
Irwin Creek Overflow Lagoon
The Irwin Creek Overflow Lagoon, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a significant earth dam structure with a hydraulic height of 25.5 feet and a structural height of 22 feet. Completed in 2001, this lagoon serves as a vital resource for managing overflow from the Irwin Creek-Os river or stream. With a storage capacity of 104 acre-feet and a surface area of 6.4 acres, the lagoon plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and mitigating flood risks in the area.
Owned by the local government and inspected regularly, the Irwin Creek Overflow Lagoon has been assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in October 2020. While it is not state-regulated or permitted, the lagoon meets the necessary safety standards and has a significant hazard potential due to its size and function. Despite not having a state jurisdiction or enforcement agency, the lagoon operates effectively to fulfill its primary purpose and contributes to the overall water resource management efforts in Mecklenburg County.
The Irwin Creek Overflow Lagoon stands as a key infrastructure project in the region, designed to control water levels and protect surrounding areas from potential flooding. With a solid construction history and a storage capacity of 104 acre-feet, this earth dam structure provides essential support for water resource and climate enthusiasts. By maintaining an adequate storage volume and surface area, this lagoon plays a vital role in safeguarding the community against flood risks and ensuring sustainable water management practices in the area.
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 Irwin Creek Overflow Lagoon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Irwin Creek Near Charlotte | 17 cfs | → |
| Taggart Creek At West Boulevard Nr Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
| Stewart Creek At West Morehead St At Charlotte | 11 cfs | → |
| Stewart Creek At State St At Charlotte | 13 cfs | → |
| Little Hope Cr At Seneca Place At Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
| Coffey Creek Nr Charlotte | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Irwin Creek Overflow Lagoon.
Boat launches
- Wilkinson Boulevard Belmont
- East Charlotte Avenue Downtown
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
- Neck Road 5744, Huntersville
Campgrounds
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Sign Language
- Ebenezer County Park
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Hounds Gateway Campground
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Buck Branch
- Benfield Creek
- Abbotts Creek
- Arrowhead Lake
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
Track Irwin Creek Overflow Lagoon 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 Irwin Creek Overflow Lagoon
Where does the data for Irwin Creek Overflow Lagoon 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 Irwin Creek Overflow Lagoon.