Willis Lake Dam dam
Willis Lake Dam
Located in Whitehead, North Carolina, the Willis Lake Dam stands as a testament to engineering excellence since its completion in 1962. With a primary purpose of recreation, this private dam on Waterfall Creek offers a serene escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike. Standing at a structural height of 30 feet and a hydraulic height of 25 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 56 acre-feet, providing a surface area of 4.7 acres for outdoor enjoyment.
Managed by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, the Willis Lake Dam is state-regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of January 2019, this earth dam continues to serve its recreational purposes with minimal risk. Surrounded by the picturesque Alleghany County landscape, the dam's location offers a tranquil setting for visitors to connect with nature and appreciate the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climates.
As the Wilmington District of the USACE oversees the Willis Lake Dam, it remains a vital part of the local ecosystem, providing both recreational opportunities and essential water storage. With a drainage area of 218 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 165 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in maintaining water flow and quality in the region. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Willis Lake Dam represents a harmonious blend of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
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 Willis Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork New River Near Jefferson | 132 cfs | → |
| Reddies River At North Wilkesboro | 30 cfs | → |
| New River Near Galax | 555 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Wilkesboro | 328 cfs | → |
| Chestnut Creek At Galax | 25 cfs | → |
| Mitchell River Near State Road | 57 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willis Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Farmers Fish Camp Road Alleghany County
- Old River Lane 998, Grayson County
- Cox's Chapel Road Grayson County
- Baywood Boat Ramp
- Nc 16 3350, Jefferson
- Riverside Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
- Green Cove--Jefferson Nf Near Confluence Of Star Hill Branch To Confluence With Whitetop Laurel
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
Track Willis 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 Willis Lake Dam
Where does the data for Willis 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 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 Willis Lake Dam.