Wright Lake Dam dam
Wright Lake Dam
Located in Antioch, North Carolina, the Wright Lake Dam is a privately owned structure built in 1943 primarily for irrigation purposes. Situated on Toney Creek, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 16 feet with a hydraulic height of 13 feet and a length of 270 feet. With a storage capacity of 196 acre-feet and a surface area of 12 acres, the dam serves as a vital water resource for the area, supporting agriculture and recreational activities.
Despite not being regulated by the state, the Wright Lake Dam has been inspected and maintained regularly, with its last inspection in December 2012 rating its condition as satisfactory and its hazard potential as low. With a drainage area of 1421 acres and a maximum discharge of 53 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and ensuring water security for the surrounding area. While it may not be as well-known as larger dams, Wright Lake Dam remains a key component of the local water infrastructure.
As a symbol of sustainable water management and resource utilization, the Wright Lake Dam exemplifies the importance of smaller, community-focused dams in meeting the water needs of local residents. With its modest yet effective design, the dam continues to provide essential irrigation water while also offering opportunities for recreation. Its history of satisfactory condition assessments and low hazard potential underscore its reliability and importance in maintaining a secure water supply in the region.
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 Wright Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rockfish Creek At Raeford | 30 cfs | → |
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 14 cfs | → |
| Lumber River Near Maxton | 91 cfs | → |
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 2 cfs | → |
| Big Shoe Heel Creek Nr Laurinburg | 15 cfs | → |
| Little River At Manchester | 28 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wright Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Dewberry Drive Whispering Pines
- Shadow Drive 93, Whispering Pines
- Niagara Carthage Road 3326, Whispering Pines
- Carolina Way 956, Harnett County
Campgrounds
- Chalk Banks - Lumber River State Park
- Smith Lake Army Rv Military - Ft Bragg
- John Culberth Campsite
- Hickory Campsite
- Loblolly Campsite
- Sweetgum Campsite
Fishing spots
Track Wright Lake 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 Wright Lake Dam
Where does the data for Wright Lake 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 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 Wright Lake Dam.