Sycamore Ridge Dam dam
Sycamore Ridge Dam
Sycamore Ridge Dam, located in Concord, North Carolina, is a privately-owned structure that serves the primary purpose of recreation. This earth-type dam stands at a hydraulic height of 12.5 feet and a structural height of 14.9 feet, with a total length of 282 feet. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 7 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 8 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 1.3 acres within a drainage area of 13 square miles. The dam is situated on a tributary to Cold Water Creek and is regulated by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Sycamore Ridge Dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection date in January 2020. The dam has an inspection frequency of 2 years, indicating regular monitoring and maintenance practices to ensure its safety and structural integrity. While details on the dam's construction year and specific hazard mitigation measures are not provided, the presence of state regulation, inspection, and enforcement mechanisms suggest a commitment to ensuring the safety of the dam and surrounding community in the event of an emergency. Overall, Sycamore Ridge Dam presents an intriguing case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and sustainability of recreational dams.
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 Sycamore Ridge Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Coddle Cr At Sr 1612 Near Davidson | 3 cfs | → |
| Rocky R Ab Irish Buffalo Cr Nr Rocky River | 46 cfs | → |
| Clarke Creek Near Harrisburg | 2 cfs | → |
| Mallard Cr Bl Stony Cr Nr Harrisburg | 5 cfs | → |
| W. Br Rocky R B Mth Of S Prong R Nr Cornelius | 3 cfs | → |
| Reedy Creek At Sr 2803 Nr Charlotte | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sycamore Ridge Dam.
Boat launches
- Neck Road 5744, Huntersville
- Trading Ford Way Davidson County
- Seipel Drive 8335, Denver
- Shipley Lane Lincoln County
- Nc 73 Mecklenburg County
- Wildlife Rec Area Access Road 899, Davidson County
Campgrounds
- Shepherds Field
- Morrow Mountain State Park
- Deep Water Trailt Horse Camp
- Badin Lake Capmground Upper Loop
- Badin Lake
- Badin Lake Campground
Fishing spots
- Abbotts Creek
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Buddle Branch
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Buck Branch
- Arrowhead Lake
Track Sycamore Ridge 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 Sycamore Ridge Dam
Where does the data for Sycamore Ridge 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 Sycamore Ridge Dam.