Lowery Dam dam
Lowery Dam
Lowery Dam, located in Franklin, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves multiple purposes, including fire protection, stock management, and acting as a small fish pond. The dam is primarily made of earth and stands at a hydraulic height of 18 feet, with a structural height of 20 feet and a length of 375 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 2.5 acres, making it a vital resource for water management in the area.
Managed by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Lowery Dam is subject to regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in November 2020. With its location on Horse Creek-Tr and its critical role in water management for the region, Lowery Dam plays a crucial part in supporting the local ecosystem and providing essential services to the community.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the unique features of Lowery Dam, such as its multiple uses and state-regulated status, make it a fascinating subject for study and observation. Its importance for fire protection, stock management, and water storage highlights the interconnectedness of human activities and environmental sustainability. With ongoing monitoring and risk management measures in place, Lowery Dam stands as a testament to the critical role of infrastructure in balancing water resource needs and ecological health 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 Lowery Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neuse River Near Falls | 123 cfs | → |
| Tar River Near Tar River | 3 cfs | → |
| Tar R At Us 401 At Louisburg | 18 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 | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lowery Dam.
Boat launches
- Falls Lake Trail Wake County
- Barton's Creek Boat Ramp
- Duck Cove Trail Wake County
- Creedmoor Road 13900, Town Of Wake Forest
- Durham County
- Ledge Rock Boat Ramp, Creedmoor
Campgrounds
- Shoreline Campground
- Overlook Campground
- Shortleaf Pine Campground
- Two Oaks Campground
- Bootleg Point Campground
- Osprey Nest Campground
Track Lowery 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 Lowery Dam
Where does the data for Lowery 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 Lowery Dam.