Searstone dam
Searstone
Searstone is a private dam located in Wake County, North Carolina, specifically in the city of Cary. The dam regulates Turkey Creek trib, serving various purposes such as fire protection, stock, small fish pond, and recreation. With a structural height of 18 feet and a length of 250 feet, Searstone has a storage capacity of 9 acre-feet and a surface area of 1.3 acres.
Owned privately, Searstone is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The dam is primarily used for recreation, with a satisfactory condition assessment as of May 2019. However, its high hazard potential highlights the importance of regular inspections and adherence to safety guidelines to mitigate risks and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
As a significant feature in the local water resource landscape, Searstone provides both recreational opportunities and essential functions like fire protection. Its location in a highly populated area underscores the need for diligent monitoring and maintenance to prevent potential hazards. With proper management and adherence to regulations, Searstone continues to play a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Wake County.
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 Searstone -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White Oak Cr At Mouth Near Green Level | · | → |
| Swift Creek Near Apex | 1 cfs | → |
| Northeast Creek At Sr1100 Nr Genlee | 8 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Cr At Ebenezer Church Rd Nr Raleigh | 14 cfs | → |
| New Hope Creek Near Blands | 11 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 Searstone.
Boat launches
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Ferrington Boat Ramp, Chapel Hill
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
- Hanks Chapel Road 2765, Town Of Pittsboro
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
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Durant Nature Park
Track Searstone 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 Searstone
Where does the data for Searstone 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 Searstone.