Hillcrest Lake Dam dam
Hillcrest Lake Dam
Hillcrest Lake Dam, located in Lakeview Tr. at Hillcrest Rd. in Lenoir, North Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam that serves primarily for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a structural height of 13 feet with a hydraulic height of 10 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 48 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 62 acre-feet. The dam is situated on an unnamed tributary that flows into the Neuse River, under the regulatory oversight of the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program.
Despite its recreational significance, Hillcrest Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential, as indicated by its unsatisfactory condition assessment during the last inspection in December 2020. With a hazard potential of high risk, this dam requires regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and the safety of downstream communities. As the primary source agency overseeing its regulation, the NCDEQ is responsible for enforcing inspections, permitting, and enforcement to mitigate any potential risks associated with the dam.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to recognize the importance of maintaining the safety and functionality of structures like Hillcrest Lake Dam to prevent potential disasters and protect the surrounding environment. With its critical role in recreation and water management, ongoing assessment and management measures are essential to ensure the longevity and resilience of this dam for future generations.
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 Hillcrest Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neuse River At Kinston | 498 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Mays Store | 98 cfs | → |
| Contentnea Creek At Hookerton | 127 cfs | → |
| Nahunta Swamp Near Shine | 9 cfs | → |
| Trent River Near Trenton | 3 cfs | → |
| Neuse River Near Fort Barnwell | 695 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hillcrest Lake Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Hillcrest Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hillcrest 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 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 below 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.
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.