Rtp South Dam dam
Rtp South Dam
Located in Apex, North Carolina, the Rtp South Dam, also known as Rtp Lake W-3 Dam, is a privately owned structure on Kitt Creek. Completed in 1993, this earth dam stands 23 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 13 feet and a length of 320 feet. It serves primarily for recreation purposes, providing a surface area of 77 acres and a storage capacity of 708 acre-feet. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in December 2019 was deemed satisfactory.
Managed by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, the Rtp South Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. It is situated within the Wake County jurisdiction, with coordinates at 35.8521°N, -78.8734°W. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in February 2015, and while risk assessment details are not specified, the structure's operations and maintenance are currently not under the purview of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate the ecological significance of the Rtp South Dam, which not only provides recreational opportunities but also plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. Its construction and maintenance reflect a commitment to safety and environmental stewardship, ensuring the sustainable use of water and protection of surrounding communities against potential hazards.
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 Rtp South Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Creek At Sr1100 Nr Genlee | 8 cfs | → |
| New Hope Creek Near Blands | 11 cfs | → |
| White Oak Cr At Mouth Near Green Level | · | → |
| Crabtree Cr At Ebenezer Church Rd Nr Raleigh | 14 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near Chapel Hill | 6 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Hwy 70 At Raleigh | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rtp South Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Ferrington Boat Ramp, Chapel Hill
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Durham County
- Baptist Route 4398, Durham County
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Redwood Campsite
Track Rtp South 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 Rtp South Dam
Where does the data for Rtp South 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 Rtp South Dam.