White Lake Dam dam
White Lake Dam
White Lake Dam, located in Lillington, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure constructed in 1975 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, standing at a hydraulic height of 46 feet and a structural height of 50 feet, is situated along the Cape Fear River-Os, providing a surface area of 3 acres for water activities. Despite its importance for recreation, the dam has been flagged with a high hazard potential and a poor condition assessment, indicating a need for maintenance and potential safety concerns.
Managed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, White Lake Dam is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement. The dam's last inspection in October 2020 revealed its deteriorating condition and highlighted the urgency for upkeep. With a maximum storage capacity of 27 acre-feet and a normal storage of 55.2 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in the local water resource management, making its maintenance and structural integrity vital for the surrounding community and environment.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the significance of White Lake Dam lies not only in its recreational value but in its role in water storage and management along the Cape Fear River-Os. The dam's current state of disrepair underscores the importance of regular inspections, maintenance, and potential upgrades to ensure its continued functionality and safety. With the dam's high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, efforts to address these issues are imperative to safeguard both the dam's integrity and the community downstream that may be at risk in the event of a failure.
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 White Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Fear River At Lillington | 560 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 7 cfs | → |
| Little River At Manchester | 33 cfs | → |
| Middle Creek Near Clayton | 11 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Mccullars Crossroads | 13 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Apex | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near White Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
- Highway 42 1-199, Sanford
- Carolina Way 956, Harnett County
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Jordan Dam Road 935, Chatham County
Campgrounds
- San Lee County Park
- Smith Lake Army Rv Military - Ft Bragg
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- William B. Umstead State Park
Fishing spots
Track White 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 White Lake Dam
Where does the data for White 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 White Lake Dam.