Bells Lake Dam dam
Bells Lake Dam
Bells Lake Dam in Wake, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure regulated by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. The dam, located in Macks Village, serves primarily for recreational purposes along the Middle Creek-Tr river. With a hydraulic height of 13 feet and a structural height of 16 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet, providing a surface area of 8 acres for recreational activities.
Despite its low hazard potential, Bells Lake Dam has been assessed as being in poor condition during its last inspection in November 2019. The dam, with a drainage area of 77 square miles, is in need of maintenance and potential improvements to ensure its long-term safety and functionality. With an inspection frequency of every five years, the regulatory agency oversees the dam's enforcement and compliance with state regulations to mitigate any risks associated with its operation.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the condition and management of structures like Bells Lake Dam is crucial for sustainable water use and environmental conservation. By being informed about the status of dams like this one, enthusiasts can advocate for necessary actions to preserve and enhance these vital water resources for both recreational enjoyment and ecological balance 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 Bells Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Swift Creek Near Apex | 1 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Mccullars Crossroads | 13 cfs | → |
| Rocky Branch Below Pullen Drive At Raleigh | 0 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Sunnybrook Drive Nr Raleigh | 4 cfs | → |
| White Oak Cr At Mouth Near Green Level | · | → |
| Middle Creek Near Clayton | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bells Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
- Neuse River Trail Wake County
- Milburnie Dam Bridge Raleigh
Campgrounds
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Durant Nature Park
- Blue Heron Campground
Fishing spots
Track Bells 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 Bells Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bells 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 Bells Lake Dam.