Lake Pinehurst Dam dam
Lake Pinehurst Dam
Lake Pinehurst Dam, located in Moore, North Carolina, is a privately-owned structure regulated by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program. This earth dam, standing at a hydraulic height of 38 feet and a structural height of 48 feet, serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a normal storage capacity of 2500 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 3050 acre-feet. The dam impounds Horse Creek, creating a surface area of 60 acres and a drainage area of 2420 square miles.
Despite its scenic recreational offerings, Lake Pinehurst Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition as of the last inspection in January 2021. With a history dating back to its completion year that remains unspecified, the dam requires frequent inspections every two years to ensure public safety. Additionally, the dam lacks an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and has not been updated to meet current guidelines, raising concerns about its preparedness in case of emergencies.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, enthusiasts and stakeholders monitoring Lake Pinehurst Dam should advocate for improved maintenance and safety measures to mitigate risks associated with its aging structure and potential hazards. Engaging with regulatory agencies and the dam owner to address the dam's poor condition and lack of emergency preparedness is crucial to ensure the safety and sustainability of this important water resource 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 Pinehurst Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 43 cfs | → |
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 3 cfs | → |
| Rockfish Creek At Raeford | 50 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Star | 7 cfs | → |
| Pee Dee R Nr Rockingham | 1,810 cfs | → |
| Lumber River Near Maxton | 187 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Pinehurst Dam.
Boat launches
- Niagara Carthage Road 3326, Whispering Pines
- Shadow Drive 93, Whispering Pines
- Dewberry Drive Whispering Pines
- State Road 1759, Lilesville
- West Us 74 Highway 1333, Rockingham
- Carolina Way 956, Harnett County
Campgrounds
- Loblolly Campsite
- Sweetgum Campsite
- Hickory Campsite
- Camp Durant
- Camp Reeves
- Chalk Banks - Lumber River State Park
Fishing spots
- Aberdeen Town Lake
- Big Branch
- Broadacres Lakes
- Broadacres Lake
- Baldwins Pond
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
Track Lake Pinehurst 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 Pinehurst Dam
Where does the data for Lake Pinehurst 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 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 Pinehurst Dam.