Lake Mcphaul Dam dam
Lake Mcphaul Dam
Lake Mcphaul Dam, located in Raeford, North Carolina, is a privately-owned structure built in 1964 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a hydraulic height of 18 feet and a structural height of 22 feet, with a length of 650 feet and a storage capacity of 262 acre-feet. Situated on Rockfish Creek, the dam serves as a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking water-based activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Lake Mcphaul Dam has not been regulated or permitted by the state. While inspections have been conducted in the past, the last one dating back to August 2012, the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan in place. With a drainage area of 608 square miles and a maximum discharge rate of 133 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region and mitigating flood risks.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the importance of monitoring and maintaining dams like Lake Mcphaul Dam becomes increasingly vital. With its scenic surroundings and recreational offerings, the dam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human enjoyment of natural resources and the need for responsible stewardship to ensure the safety and sustainability of water systems for future generations.
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 Lake Mcphaul Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 38 cfs | → |
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 3 cfs | → |
| Rockfish Creek At Raeford | 41 cfs | → |
| Little River At Manchester | 50 cfs | → |
| Lumber River Near Maxton | 164 cfs | → |
| Big Shoe Heel Creek Nr Laurinburg | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Mcphaul Dam.
Boat launches
- Niagara Carthage Road 3326, Whispering Pines
- Dewberry Drive Whispering Pines
- Shadow Drive 93, Whispering Pines
- Carolina Way 956, Harnett County
Campgrounds
- Chalk Banks - Lumber River State Park
- Hickory Campsite
- Loblolly Campsite
- Sweetgum Campsite
- Camp Durant
- Camp Reeves
Fishing spots
Track Lake Mcphaul 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 Lake Mcphaul Dam
Where does the data for Lake Mcphaul 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 Lake Mcphaul Dam.