Falls Lake Dam dam
Falls Lake Dam
Falls Lake Dam, located in Wake, North Carolina, is a crucial structure managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers to reduce flood risks downstream on the Neuse River. Completed in 1981, the earth dam stands at 92 feet in height and has a storage capacity of over 1 million acre-feet. While the dam greatly reduces flood risks, there are rare but possible events where extreme rainfall could challenge its capacity, leading to potential overtopping and breaching. In such cases, the auxiliary spillway comes into play to divert excess water and minimize the impact on downstream communities.
To manage these risks effectively, the USACE implements various measures, including close coordination with weather agencies, regular inspections, and continuous risk assessments. The dam's Emergency Action Plan is regularly updated, and emergency materials are stockpiled on-site to address potential erosion issues. Additional instrumentation and communication efforts with downstream populations are also planned to enhance the dam's overall safety and flood risk reduction capabilities. Despite the moderate risk classification, the USACE remains vigilant in monitoring and improving the dam's resilience to extreme weather events.
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 Falls Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neuse River Near Falls | 123 cfs | → |
| Marsh C Nr New Hope | 1 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Hwy 70 At Raleigh | 13 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Us 1 At Raleigh | 17 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Cr At Ebenezer Church Rd Nr Raleigh | 14 cfs | → |
| Rocky Branch Below Pullen Drive At Raleigh | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Falls Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Barton's Creek Boat Ramp
- Falls Lake Trail Wake County
- Neuse River Trail Raleigh
- Creedmoor Road 13900, Town Of Wake Forest
- Durham County
- Duck Cove Trail Wake County
Campgrounds
- Durant Nature Park
- Shoreline Campground
- Blue Heron Campground
- Bootleg Point Campground
- Osprey Nest Campground
- Shortleaf Pine Campground
Track Falls 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 Falls Lake Dam
Where does the data for Falls 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 Falls Lake Dam.