Weatherspoon Cooling Lake Dam dam
Weatherspoon Cooling Lake Dam
Weatherspoon Cooling Lake Dam in Lumberton, North Carolina, is a vital structure owned by a public utility and regulated by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program. The dam was completed in 1955 and serves as a barrier on the Lumber River, providing cooling water for industrial purposes. With a structural height of 14 feet and a hydraulic height of 9 feet, the dam has a normal storage capacity of 828 acre-feet, helping to manage water resources in the area.
Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, Weatherspoon Cooling Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water management and climate resilience efforts in Robeson County. The dam has a storage capacity of 994 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 51.1 acres, contributing to flood control and water supply reliability in the region. Regular inspections and enforcement by state agencies ensure the safety and integrity of the dam, making it a key asset for both the local community and the environment.
As a significant earth dam with a long history of service, Weatherspoon Cooling Lake Dam represents a blend of engineering ingenuity and environmental stewardship. Its presence on the Lumber River underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management and highlights the interconnectedness of climate, water, and infrastructure. With ongoing maintenance and oversight, the dam continues to fulfill its primary purpose and support the resilience of the surrounding ecosystem in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Weatherspoon Cooling Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lumber River At Lumberton | 120 cfs | → |
| Lumber River At Boardman | 142 cfs | → |
| Big Swamp Nr Tarheel | 1 cfs | → |
| Cape Fear R At Wilm O Huske Lock Nr Tarheel | 614 cfs | → |
| Lumber River Near Maxton | 91 cfs | → |
| Big Shoe Heel Creek Nr Laurinburg | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Weatherspoon Cooling Lake Dam.
Track Weatherspoon Cooling 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 Weatherspoon Cooling Lake Dam
Where does the data for Weatherspoon Cooling 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 Weatherspoon Cooling Lake Dam.