Hugh Chatham Hospital Dam dam
Hugh Chatham Hospital Dam
Hugh Chatham Hospital Dam, located in Elkin, North Carolina, stands as a vital structure along Dutchman Creek-Tr for recreational purposes. Owned privately, the dam is regulated by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring its compliance with state regulations. The dam's hydraulic height measures at 37.5 feet, with a structural height of 58.7 feet, providing a storage capacity of 171.4 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 7.3 acres.
Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 indicated poor structural integrity, highlighting the need for regular inspections and potential maintenance or repairs to ensure its safety. With a drainage area of 70 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 130 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. The presence of Virginia Foxx (R) as the congressional representative underscores the importance of the dam within the local community and its impact on water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to monitor the state of Hugh Chatham Hospital Dam, its role in providing recreational opportunities while managing water flow along Dutchman Creek-Tr remains essential. With a focus on safety and compliance with state regulations, the dam serves as a key infrastructure for the region, highlighting the intersection of human activities and environmental stewardship. As efforts are made to address the dam's poor condition assessment and ensure its long-term viability, stakeholders are reminded of the critical role such structures play in maintaining water security and climate resilience in North Carolina.
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 Hugh Chatham Hospital Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yadkin River At Elkin | 521 cfs | → |
| Mitchell River Near State Road | 57 cfs | → |
| Fisher River Near Copeland | 177 cfs | → |
| Ararat River At Ararat | 110 cfs | → |
| Hunting Creek Near Harmony | 50 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Wilkesboro | 313 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hugh Chatham Hospital Dam.
Boat launches
- Campground Trail Yadkin County
- Baywood Boat Ramp
- Old River Lane 998, Grayson County
- Farmers Fish Camp Road Alleghany County
- Pattons Mill Lane 1434, Grayson County
- Riverside Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Hugh Chatham Hospital 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 Hugh Chatham Hospital Dam
Where does the data for Hugh Chatham Hospital 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 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 Hugh Chatham Hospital Dam.