Cottonwood Dam dam
Cottonwood Dam
Cottonwood Dam, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure regulated by the state's Dam Safety Program. The dam, primarily used for recreation, stands at a hydraulic height of 14 feet and a structural height of 15 feet, with a length of 233 feet. It has a maximum storage capacity of 8.4 acre-feet and a normal storage of 14 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 1.4 acres along the McAlpine Creek-Tr.
Despite its fair condition assessment as of February 2020, Cottonwood Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential. Regular inspections are conducted every two years to ensure its safety and functionality. While there are no associated structures or outlet gates, the dam presents a significant risk that calls for proper emergency preparedness measures, although specifics on risk management and inundation maps are not readily available. The dam's significance lies in its role as a recreational resource in the area, adding to the natural beauty and water-based activities along the McAlpine Creek.
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 Cottonwood Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Four Mile Creek Near Pineville | 3 cfs | → |
| Mcmullen Cr At Sharon View Rd Near Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
| Mcalpine Cr At Sardis Road Near Charlotte | 2 cfs | → |
| Mcalpine Cr Below Mcmullen Cr Nr Pineville | 6 cfs | → |
| Little Sugar Creek At Pineville | 20 cfs | → |
| Little Sugar C At Archdale Dr At Charlotte | 32 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cottonwood Dam.
Boat launches
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
- Windward Drive Tega Cay
Campgrounds
- Sign Language
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Ebenezer County Park
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Cane Creek Park
- Williams Farm
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Buck Branch
- Arrowhead Lake
- Abbotts Creek
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Buddle Branch
Track Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood Dam
Where does the data for Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood Dam.