Morse Lake Dam dam
Morse Lake Dam
Morse Lake Dam, located in Vass, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure managed by the USDA NRCS. Built in 1968, the dam stands at 25 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 20 feet and a length of 930 feet. The primary purpose of Morse Lake Dam is for recreation, providing a surface area of 12 acres and a storage capacity of 405 acre-feet.
State-regulated and inspected by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, Morse Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently assessed to be in fair condition. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a maximum discharge of 150 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk level, Morse Lake Dam has not undergone recent risk management measures or updates to its emergency action plan. With its stone core and soil foundation, the dam serves as a vital water resource and recreational asset for the community.
Overall, Morse Lake Dam is a crucial infrastructure for water management and recreation in Moore County, North Carolina. With its historical significance and continued role in providing leisure activities, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and risk assessment for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources 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 Morse Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 3 cfs | → |
| Little River At Manchester | 55 cfs | → |
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 43 cfs | → |
| Rockfish Creek At Raeford | 50 cfs | → |
| Deep River At Moncure | 111 cfs | → |
| Tick Creek Near Mount Vernon Springs | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Morse Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Dewberry Drive Whispering Pines
- Shadow Drive 93, Whispering Pines
- Niagara Carthage Road 3326, Whispering Pines
- Carolina Way 956, Harnett County
- Highway 42 1-199, Sanford
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Morse 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 Morse Lake Dam
Where does the data for Morse 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 Morse Lake Dam.