Blue Brothers Lake Dam dam
Blue Brothers Lake Dam
Blue Brothers Lake Dam, located in Lobelia, North Carolina, is a private dam primarily used for irrigation purposes on the Horse Branch river. Built in 1955 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 20 feet and a structural height of 23 feet, with a length of 540 feet. The dam has a significant hazard potential and its condition has been assessed as poor, highlighting the need for regular inspections and potential risk management measures.
Despite its poor condition, Blue Brothers Lake Dam continues to serve as a vital source of water for irrigation and recreation, with a storage capacity of 101 acre-feet. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and it has a spillway width that is not specified. The dam is under state regulation by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, ensuring that it meets the necessary safety standards and undergoes regular inspections to prevent potential hazards and risks to the surrounding community.
With its moderate risk assessment rating and the presence of significant hazard potential, Blue Brothers Lake Dam stands as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring of water infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to advocate for the continued upkeep and safety of such structures to ensure the protection of both the environment and local communities that depend on them.
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 Blue Brothers Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 3 cfs | → |
| Little River At Manchester | 55 cfs | → |
| Rockfish Creek At Raeford | 50 cfs | → |
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 43 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 23 cfs | → |
| Cape Fear River At Lillington | 566 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blue Brothers Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Dewberry Drive Whispering Pines
- Shadow Drive 93, Whispering Pines
- Niagara Carthage Road 3326, Whispering Pines
- Carolina Way 956, Harnett County
- Highway 42 1-199, Sanford
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
Campgrounds
- San Lee County Park
- Smith Lake Army Rv Military - Ft Bragg
- Hickory Campsite
- Sweetgum Campsite
- Loblolly Campsite
- Camp Durant
Fishing spots
Track Blue Brothers 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 Blue Brothers Lake Dam
Where does the data for Blue Brothers 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 Significant 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 Blue Brothers Lake Dam.