Clearwater Lake Dam At Runaway Bay dam
Clearwater Lake Dam At Runaway Bay
Clearwater Lake Dam At Runaway Bay in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure regulated by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. Completed in 1984, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 11.6 feet and a structural height of 15.8 feet, with a total length of 400 feet. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes and has a maximum storage capacity of 25.3 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 3.2 acres and draining an area of 480 acres along the Mcalpine Creek-Tr.
Despite being classified as a high hazard potential structure, the dam's condition is assessed as fair as of the last inspection in January 2020. The Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in May 2017, and the structure undergoes inspections every two years to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. While the dam does not have a spillway or outlet gates, it plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for the community while also managing water resources in the area. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Clearwater Lake Dam a significant part of the local landscape, contributing to both recreation and water management efforts.
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 Clearwater Lake Dam At Runaway Bay -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mcalpine Creek At Sr3150 Nr Idlewild | 0 cfs | → |
| Campbell Creek Nr Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
| Mcalpine Cr At Sardis Road Near Charlotte | 2 cfs | → |
| Irvins Creek At Sr3168 Nr Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
| Mcmullen Cr At Sharon View Rd Near Charlotte | 0 cfs | → |
| Briar Cr Above Colony Rd At Charlotte | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clearwater Lake Dam At Runaway Bay.
Boat launches
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- Wilkinson Boulevard Belmont
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
- East Charlotte Avenue Downtown
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
Campgrounds
- Sign Language
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Ebenezer County Park
- Cane Creek Park
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Williams Farm
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Buck Branch
- Arrowhead Lake
- Abbotts Creek
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Buddle Branch
Track Clearwater Lake Dam At Runaway Bay 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 Clearwater Lake Dam At Runaway Bay
Where does the data for Clearwater Lake Dam At Runaway Bay 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 Clearwater Lake Dam At Runaway Bay.