West Lake Dam dam
West Lake Dam
West Lake Dam, located in Stantonsburg, North Carolina, was completed in 1950 for the primary purpose of irrigation. With a hydraulic height of 14.15 feet and a structural height of 21.45 feet, this earth dam stands at 300 feet long and has a storage capacity of 53 acre-feet. The dam also serves recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 6 acres for visitors to enjoy.
Owned privately, West Lake Dam is not regulated by the state and has a low hazard potential. While it has not been rated for its condition since its last inspection in 2008, the dam meets safety guidelines and is equipped with emergency action plans. The dam's location on the Aycock Swamp-Tr River, under the jurisdiction of the Wilmington District, provides valuable water resources for the surrounding area, ensuring a reliable water supply for irrigation and recreational activities.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, West Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned dam with a dual purpose of irrigation and recreation. Its historical significance and contribution to water management in Wayne County, North Carolina, make it a noteworthy structure worth exploring further in the context of sustainable water resource utilization and climate adaptation efforts.
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 West Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nahunta Swamp Near Shine | 4 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Princeton | 6 cfs | → |
| Neuse River Near Goldsboro | 262 cfs | → |
| Contentnea Creek Near Lucama | 30 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Mays Store | 98 cfs | → |
| Contentnea Creek At Hookerton | 47 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- 777-1799 Ferry Bridge Rd, Grantham, Nc
- Buffalo Creek Greenway Smithfield
- Old Pink Hill Road 963, Lenoir County
- Highway 222 3029, Fountain
- South Street 204, Grifton
Campgrounds
- Seymour Johnson Afb Military
- Rvacation Campground
- Cliffs Of The Neuse State Park
- Neuseway Nature Park
- Contentnea Creekside City Park
Track West 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 West Lake Dam
Where does the data for West 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 West Lake Dam.