Little River dam
Little River
Little River is a historic hydroelectric dam located in Montgomery, North Carolina, constructed in 1919 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Standing at a height of 31 feet with a length of 353 feet, the dam serves as a gravity structure utilizing a combination of masonry and stone materials, with a buttress core and rock foundation. This dam plays a crucial role in harnessing the power of the Little River for hydroelectric purposes, providing storage of 496 acre-feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 5,808 cubic feet per second.
Despite its age, Little River has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. It operates an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 242 feet and a surface area of 49 acres, serving a drainage area of 195 square miles. The dam's condition assessment is currently not available, but it undergoes inspections every three years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Although not state-regulated, Little River remains a significant part of North Carolina's water resource infrastructure, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring such historical structures 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 Little River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Star | 5 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Near Norwood | 112 cfs | → |
| Pee Dee R Nr Rockingham | 1,900 cfs | → |
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 14 cfs | → |
| Deep River At Ramseur | 13 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Nr Stanfield | 173 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little River .
Boat launches
- Lilly’S Bridge Access Area
- Morrow Mountain Boat Launch
- Falls Road Stanly County
- Cove Boat Ramp
- Badin Lake Boat Ramp
- Old Whitney Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Yates Place Camp
- Woodrun
- East Morris Mountain
- West Morris Mtn.
- West Morris Mtn. Campground
- Uwharrie Hunt Camp
Fishing spots
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
- Arrowhead Lake
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
- Big Branch
- Baldwins Pond
- Broadacres Lake
Track Little River 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 Little River
Where does the data for Little River 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 Low 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 Little River .