Adams Dam dam
Adams Dam
Located in Wake, North Carolina, Adams Dam is a private earth dam situated on Crabtree Creek-Tr. With a hydraulic height of 13.5 feet and a structural height of 17 feet, this dam primarily serves recreational purposes in the area. Standing at 300 feet in length and with a storage capacity of 17 acre-feet, Adams Dam provides a surface area of 2 acres and drains an area of 67 square miles.
Despite its recreational function, Adams Dam poses a high hazard potential, as it has not been rated for its condition since its last inspection in July 1982. The dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status and risk assessment measures remain unclear, raising concerns about its ability to withstand potential emergencies. With limited information available on its current state and risk management measures, the safety and sustainability of Adams Dam for both water resources and climate enthusiasts remain uncertain.
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 Adams Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crabtree Cr At Ebenezer Church Rd Nr Raleigh | 14 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Apex | 1 cfs | → |
| Rocky Branch Below Pullen Drive At Raleigh | 0 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Hwy 70 At Raleigh | 13 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Mccullars Crossroads | 13 cfs | → |
| White Oak Cr At Mouth Near Green Level | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Adams Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Milburnie Dam Bridge Raleigh
- Ferrington Boat Ramp, Chapel Hill
- Neuse River Trail Wake County
Campgrounds
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Durant Nature Park
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
Track Adams 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 Adams Dam
Where does the data for Adams 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 Adams Dam.