Flint Ridge Dam dam
Flint Ridge Dam
Flint Ridge Dam, also known as Hillsborough Crossing Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Orange County, North Carolina. Completed in 1990, this earth-type dam serves primarily for flood risk reduction along the Eno River-Tr. With a hydraulic height of 16 feet and a structural height of 19 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 22 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 2.6 acres.
Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, Flint Ridge Dam is regularly inspected, regulated, and enforced by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. The dam's purpose extends beyond flood risk reduction to include recreational opportunities for the local community. With a normal storage capacity of 13.5 acre-feet and a drainage area of 80 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Located in the city of Hillsborough, Flint Ridge Dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 518.5 cubic feet per second and a length of 320 feet. While it lacks associated lock structures, the dam's design and construction adhere to state permitting and inspection requirements. As water resource and climate change enthusiasts, the ongoing monitoring and management of Flint Ridge Dam showcases the importance of sustainable infrastructure for safeguarding communities and ecosystems against the impacts of extreme weather events.
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 Flint Ridge Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Eno River At Hillsborough | 7 cfs | → |
| Cane Creek Near Orange Grove | 0 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near White Cross | 0 cfs | → |
| Eno River Near Durham | 16 cfs | → |
| Little River At Sr1461 Near Orange Factory | 2 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near Chapel Hill | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Flint Ridge Dam.
Boat launches
- Dimmocks Mill Road 920, Town Of Hillsborough
- Lakeview Drive Alamance County
- Graham Paddle Access Graham
- Haw River Trail Alamance County
- Haw River Trail Haw River
- Rodolphe Street 6122, Durham
Campgrounds
- Redwood Campsite
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Shallow Ford Campsites
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
Fishing spots
Track Flint Ridge Dam 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 Flint Ridge Dam
Where does the data for Flint Ridge Dam 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 Flint Ridge Dam.