Gresham Lake Dam dam
Gresham Lake Dam
Gresham Lake Dam, located in Wake County, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure built in 1939 for recreational purposes along the Perry Creek. Standing at a hydraulic height of 30 feet with a structural height of 35 feet and a length of 1100 feet, the dam provides a surface area of 65 acres and a drainage area of 2400 acres. With a maximum storage capacity of 1755 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 1200 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate impact mitigation in the region.
Maintained and regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Gresham Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential but has been assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of December 2020. The dam undergoes inspections every two years to ensure its structural integrity and operational safety. While the dam does not feature a spillway or outlet gates, it serves as a vital recreational resource for the local community, offering opportunities for fishing, boating, and wildlife observation in the surrounding area.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the role of dams like Gresham Lake Dam in managing and storing water becomes increasingly significant. With its history dating back over 80 years and its strategic location along Perry Creek, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Gresham Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neuse River Near Falls | 123 cfs | → |
| Marsh C Nr New Hope | 1 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Us 1 At Raleigh | 16 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Hwy 70 At Raleigh | 12 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Sunnybrook Drive Nr Raleigh | 3 cfs | → |
| Rocky Branch Below Pullen Drive At Raleigh | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gresham Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Neuse River Trail Raleigh
- Milburnie Dam Bridge Raleigh
- Barton's Creek Boat Ramp
- Neuse River Trail Wake County
- Falls Lake Trail Wake County
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
Campgrounds
- Durant Nature Park
- Blue Heron Campground
- Osprey Nest Campground
- Bootleg Point Campground
- Shoreline Campground
- Shortleaf Pine Campground
Track Gresham 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 Gresham Lake Dam
Where does the data for Gresham 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 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 Gresham Lake Dam.