Big Muddy Lake dam
Big Muddy Lake
Big Muddy Lake, located in Wagram, North Carolina, is a picturesque reservoir on Big Muddy Creek with a primary purpose of recreation. Owned and operated by the US Army, this Earth dam stands at 20 feet high and spans 1000 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 569 acre-feet and a surface area of 55 acres. The lake was completed in 1937 and is inspected by the US Army every 4 years, with a high hazard potential due to its condition assessment being not available.
With a drainage area of 16 square miles, Big Muddy Lake offers a tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy water-based activities. The spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 30 feet, and the outlet gates are vertical lift. Despite being in moderate risk assessment category, the lake's emergency action plan was last revised in 2002, raising questions about its current readiness for potential risks. Overall, Big Muddy Lake is a hidden gem in Scotland County, providing a vital recreational resource while also posing challenges for risk management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Big Muddy Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 43 cfs | → |
| Rockfish Creek At Raeford | 50 cfs | → |
| Lumber River Near Maxton | 187 cfs | → |
| Big Shoe Heel Creek Nr Laurinburg | 28 cfs | → |
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 3 cfs | → |
| Pee Dee R Nr Rockingham | 1,810 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Muddy Lake .
Boat launches
- Niagara Carthage Road 3326, Whispering Pines
- Shadow Drive 93, Whispering Pines
- Dewberry Drive Whispering Pines
- West Us 74 Highway 1333, Rockingham
- State Road 1759, Lilesville
Campgrounds
- Chalk Banks - Lumber River State Park
- Loblolly Campsite
- Sweetgum Campsite
- Hickory Campsite
- Camp Durant
- Camp Reeves
Fishing spots
- Broadacres Lakes
- Broadacres Lake
- Big Branch
- Aberdeen Town Lake
- Baldwins Pond
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
Track Big Muddy Lake 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 Big Muddy Lake
Where does the data for Big Muddy Lake 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 Big Muddy Lake .