Davis Lake Dam dam
Davis Lake Dam
Davis Lake Dam, located in Guilford, North Carolina, serves as a vital flood risk reduction structure along the Tributary East Fork Deep River. Completed in 1993, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 25.5 feet and has a hydraulic height of 15 feet, providing essential protection to the surrounding area. With a normal storage capacity of 138 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1,235 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating the potential impact of flooding events.
Maintained and regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Davis Lake Dam undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and operational effectiveness. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently rated as fair, indicating that necessary maintenance and risk management measures are in place. With a storage capacity of 310 acre-feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 4,944 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a key role in safeguarding the local community from potential flood risks.
The dam's primary purpose of flood risk reduction is complemented by its secondary function of debris control, highlighting its multi-faceted importance in water resource management. As part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood risk management strategy, Davis Lake Dam stands as a critical infrastructure asset, supported by local government ownership and oversight. With its strategic location in Jamestown and proximity to the Wilmington District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam represents a collaborative effort to enhance climate resilience and protect the surrounding environment from 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 Davis Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork Deep River Near High Point | 2 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Creek Nr Pomona | 1 cfs | → |
| Horsepen Creek At Us 220 Nr Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
| N Buffalo Cr At Westover Terrace At Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
| South Buffalo Creek At Us 220 At Greensboro | 1 cfs | → |
| Ryan Creek Below Us 220 At Greensboro | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Davis Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
- Pine Hall Road 2547-2793, Walnut Cove
- Homeview Road Burlington
- Us Bus 220 Boat Access Stoneville
- Haw River Trail Alamance County
Campgrounds
- Oak Hollow City Campground
- Hagan-Stone Park
- Lake Reidsville Rec Park
- Tanglewood Park
- Shallow Ford Campsites
- Sunset Park Campground
Fishing spots
Track Davis Lake 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 Davis Lake Dam
Where does the data for Davis Lake 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 Davis Lake Dam.