Anson County Wwtp Lower Dam (Sludge Lagoon) dam
Anson County Wwtp Lower Dam (Sludge Lagoon)
Located in Anson County, North Carolina, the Anson County Wwtp Lower Dam, also known as the Sludge Lagoon, serves as a crucial flood risk reduction structure along McCoy Creek. Built in 1970, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 25 feet, with a hydraulic height of 23 feet, and a length of 1500 feet. Despite its important role in flood risk reduction, the dam's condition assessment is marked as poor, with a high hazard potential.
The dam has a normal storage capacity of 96 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 105 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 10.5 acres. Although the dam is state-regulated and subject to inspection and enforcement by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, its last inspection in August 2020 revealed concerning findings. With a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, there is a pressing need for risk management measures and potentially an emergency action plan to mitigate any potential safety risks associated with the dam.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Anson County Wwtp Lower Dam presents an intriguing case study in the intersection of infrastructure, environmental regulation, and risk management. As discussions surrounding dam safety and maintenance continue to gain importance in the realm of water resource management, the Anson County Wwtp Lower Dam serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges and complexities involved in ensuring the safety and resilience of our water infrastructure in the face of changing climate 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 Anson County Wwtp Lower Dam (Sludge Lagoon) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pee Dee R Nr Rockingham | 1,900 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Near Norwood | 112 cfs | → |
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 14 cfs | → |
| Pee Dee River Nr Bennettsville | 2,050 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Star | 5 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Nr Stanfield | 173 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Anson County Wwtp Lower Dam (Sludge Lagoon).
Boat launches
- State Road 1759, Lilesville
- West Us 74 Highway 1333, Rockingham
- Lilly’S Bridge Access Area
- Morrow Mountain Boat Launch
- Falls Road Stanly County
Campgrounds
- Cheraw State Park
- Woodrun
- Yates Place Camp
- H. Cooper Black
- Sugarloaf Mountain Rec Area - Sand Hills State Forest
- Williams Farm
Fishing spots
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
- Arrowhead Lake
- Baldwins Pond
- Broadacres Lake
- Broadacres Lakes
- Big Branch
Track Anson County Wwtp Lower Dam (Sludge Lagoon) 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 Anson County Wwtp Lower Dam (Sludge Lagoon)
Where does the data for Anson County Wwtp Lower Dam (Sludge Lagoon) 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 Anson County Wwtp Lower Dam (Sludge Lagoon).