Jackson Lake Dam dam
Jackson Lake Dam
Jackson Lake Dam, located in Stanhope, North Carolina, is a picturesque masonry dam constructed in 1929 along Cypress Creek. With a hydraulic height of 20 feet and a structural height of 25 feet, the dam serves primarily for recreation purposes, offering a serene surface area of 36.6 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy. The dam boasts a maximum storage capacity of 665 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 165 acre-feet, providing ample water resources for the surrounding area.
Despite its age, Jackson Lake Dam is in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in March 2020, with a high hazard potential due to its proximity to populated areas. The dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Dam Safety Program, ensuring that it meets all state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements. With a drainage area of 7,040 acres, the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 4,052 cubic feet per second, safeguarding against potential flooding events.
As a vital water resource in the region, Jackson Lake Dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels and providing recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. Its historic significance, combined with its functional design and regulatory oversight, make it a fascinating site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and appreciate.
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 Jackson Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tar R At Us 401 At Louisburg | 17 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek At Hilliardston | 858 cfs | → |
| Little Fishing Creek Near White Oak | 6 cfs | → |
| Neuse River Near Falls | 123 cfs | → |
| Tar River Near Tar River | 3 cfs | → |
| Tar River At Nc 97 At Rocky Mount | 74 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Jackson Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Neuse River Trail Raleigh
- Falls Lake Trail Wake County
- Barton's Creek Boat Ramp
- Jack Wade Farm Road Vance County
- Milburnie Dam Bridge Raleigh
- Nutbush Road Vance County
Campgrounds
- Medoc Mt. State Park
- Durant Nature Park
- Shoreline Campground
- Overlook Campground
- Shortleaf Pine Campground
- Bootleg Point Campground
Track Jackson 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 Jackson Lake Dam
Where does the data for Jackson 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 Jackson Lake Dam.