Chesterfield Lake Dam dam
Chesterfield Lake Dam
Chesterfield Lake Dam, located in Buies Creek, North Carolina, serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with some recreational use as well. This private dam, completed in 1954, stands at a hydraulic height of 16 feet and a structural height of 20 feet, with a length of 1139 feet. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 90 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 108 acre-feet, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area. Its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment indicate that the dam is well-maintained and poses minimal risk to the community.
Situated on Buie Creek, Chesterfield Lake Dam is not state-regulated and has undergone its last inspection in July 2012. Despite its lack of state oversight, the dam has been deemed to meet safety guidelines and features a low risk of failure. With a drainage area of 154 square miles and a maximum discharge of 330 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region. Its strategic location and efficient design make Chesterfield Lake Dam a valuable asset for both agricultural and recreational purposes in Harnett County.
As a key feature in the local water infrastructure, Chesterfield Lake Dam provides essential irrigation and recreational benefits to the community. Its earth dam type and storage capacity make it a reliable source of water for agricultural activities in the area. The dam's history, design, and operation reflect a commitment to sustainable water management practices, ensuring that water resources are utilized efficiently while minimizing environmental impacts. With its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Chesterfield Lake Dam stands as a testament to effective dam maintenance and plays a vital role in water resource management in North Carolina.
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 Chesterfield Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Fear River At Lillington | 554 cfs | → |
| Middle Creek Near Clayton | 8 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Mccullars Crossroads | 13 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 7 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Apex | 0 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Sunnybrook Drive Nr Raleigh | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chesterfield Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
- Highway 42 1-199, Sanford
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Buffalo Creek Greenway Smithfield
Campgrounds
- San Lee County Park
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Smith Lake Army Rv Military - Ft Bragg
Fishing spots
Track Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield Lake Dam
Where does the data for Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield Lake Dam.