Poston Park Dam dam
Poston Park Dam
Poston Park Dam, located in Gaston, North Carolina, along Houser Branch, is a local government-owned structure primarily used for recreation purposes. Completed in 2010, this Earth-type dam stands at a hydraulic height of 32.4 feet and a structural height of 44 feet, with a length of 633 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 142 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 325 acre-feet, the dam serves as a vital resource for the surrounding community.
Despite its fair condition assessment as of January 2020, Poston Park Dam poses a high hazard potential, making regular inspections a crucial aspect of its maintenance. The inspection frequency is set at every two years to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. In case of emergencies, it is important for the community to have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, although details on its preparation and last revision date are currently unavailable. With a maximum discharge capacity of 4091 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a significant role in managing water flow and ensuring the protection of downstream areas.
With its strategic location in Lowell and its role in providing recreational opportunities and water resource management, Poston Park Dam stands as a key infrastructure in Gaston County. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the proper maintenance and monitoring of dams like Poston Park are essential to safeguarding both the environment and the community's well-being.
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 Poston Park Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Catawba River At Lowell | 187 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Near Bessemer City | 4 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Nr Rhyne | 10 cfs | → |
| Paw Cr At Wilkinson Blvd Nr Charlotte | 7 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Ab Windy Gap Road Nr Shopton | 0 cfs | → |
| Killian Creek Near Mariposa | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Poston Park Dam.
Boat launches
- East Charlotte Avenue Downtown
- Wilkinson Boulevard Belmont
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
- Neck Road 5744, Huntersville
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
Campgrounds
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Hounds Gateway Campground
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Ebenezer County Park
- John H. Moss Lake City Campground
- Garner Creek
Fishing spots
Track Poston Park 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 Poston Park Dam
Where does the data for Poston Park 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 Poston Park Dam.