Birnen Pond dam
Birnen Pond
Birnen Pond, also known as Cameron Wood Homeowners Pond, is a private water resource located in Mecklenburg, North Carolina. Situated along the McMullen Creek Tr, this Earth dam structure has a hydraulic height of 13.4 feet and a structural height of 15.1 feet, with a total length of 200 feet. The pond has a storage capacity of 7 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 1.1 acres, serving a drainage area of 63 square miles.
Despite its private ownership, Birnen Pond plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area, with a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in November 2019. The pond has a normal storage capacity of 5 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 6 cubic feet per second. While it is not regulated by the state, the pond is subject to periodic inspections to ensure its integrity and safety for the surrounding community.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Birnen Pond to be a fascinating example of how private dams contribute to water management in North Carolina. With its strategic location and impact on the local ecosystem, this pond serves as a valuable resource for both wildlife and residents alike. The detailed data provided offers insight into the pond's design, capacity, and maintenance, highlighting the importance of responsible water resource management in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Birnen Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Sugar Creek At Pineville | 20 cfs | → |
| Four Mile Creek Near Pineville | 3 cfs | → |
| Mcalpine Cr Below Mcmullen Cr Nr Pineville | 6 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At Nc 51 Near Pineville | 37 cfs | → |
| Little Sugar C At Archdale Dr At Charlotte | 32 cfs | → |
| Mcmullen Cr At Sharon View Rd Near Charlotte | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Birnen Pond.
Boat launches
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
- Windward Drive Tega Cay
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
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
- Pittman Lake
Track Birnen Pond 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 Birnen Pond
Where does the data for Birnen Pond 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 Birnen Pond.