Fox Dam dam
Fox Dam
Fox Dam, located in Farmer, North Carolina, is a private earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a structural height of 22.5 feet and a hydraulic height of 17.9 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 50 acre-feet and a normal storage of 36 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 95 square miles, the dam poses a high hazard potential and has been assessed to be in fair condition as of February 2021.
Managed by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Fox Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam, situated on Back Creek-Tributary, offers a surface area of 4.5 acres and a maximum discharge capacity of 170 cubic feet per second. Despite its fair condition assessment, the dam is regularly inspected every two years to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and downstream areas.
With a risk management plan yet to be assigned, Fox Dam remains a key recreational resource in Randolph County, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Fox Dam to be an intriguing case study in dam safety and regulation, showcasing the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring to mitigate potential risks associated with aging infrastructure.
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 Fox Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deep River At Ramseur | 13 cfs | → |
| Abbotts Creek At Lexington | 31 cfs | → |
| Rocky R At Sr1300 Nr Crutchfield Crossroads | 2 cfs | → |
| Ryan Creek Below Us 220 At Greensboro | 0 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Star | 5 cfs | → |
| East Fork Deep River Near High Point | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fox Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
- Marina Drive 298, Montgomery County
- Wildlife Rec Area Access Road 899, Davidson County
- Cove Boat Ramp
- Old Whitney Boat Ramp
- Badin Lake Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Fox 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 Fox Dam
Where does the data for Fox 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 Fox Dam.