Rankin Lake Dam dam
Rankin Lake Dam
Rankin Lake Dam, located in North Carolina, stands as a vital water resource for the community. Completed in 1958, this earth dam spans 345 feet in length and reaches a hydraulic height of 15 feet, providing recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. With a storage capacity of 58 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow along the Little Mountain Creek-Os, ensuring the safety and well-being of the surrounding areas.
State-regulated and inspected, Rankin Lake Dam has been deemed to have a high hazard potential, yet maintains a fair condition assessment as of January 2021. With a maximum discharge capacity of 82 cubic feet per second, the dam serves as a key infrastructure for flood control and water management efforts in the region. Despite its age, the dam continues to be a reliable resource, meeting state permitting and enforcement requirements to ensure its operational effectiveness and safety.
With its picturesque location in Richmond County, Rankin Lake Dam not only provides recreational opportunities but also serves as a crucial piece of infrastructure for water resource management. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the dam remains a vital asset for the community, highlighting the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of a changing climate.
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 Rankin Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pee Dee R Nr Rockingham | 1,810 cfs | → |
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 43 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Star | 7 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Near Norwood | 166 cfs | → |
| Rockfish Creek At Raeford | 50 cfs | → |
| Big Shoe Heel Creek Nr Laurinburg | 28 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rankin Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- State Road 1759, Lilesville
- West Us 74 Highway 1333, Rockingham
- Lilly’S Bridge Access Area
- Morrow Mountain Boat Launch
- Niagara Carthage Road 3326, Whispering Pines
- Shadow Drive 93, Whispering Pines
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
- Baldwins Pond
- Big Branch
- Broadacres Lake
- Broadacres Lakes
- Arrowhead Lake
Track Rankin 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 Rankin Lake Dam
Where does the data for Rankin 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 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 Rankin Lake Dam.