N C S U Lake Dam #1 dam
N C S U Lake Dam #1
N C S U Lake Dam #1, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a state-regulated earth dam constructed in 1948 for purposes including irrigation and other uses. The dam stands at a hydraulic height of 23 feet and a structural height of 25 feet, with a length of 435 feet. It has a normal storage capacity of 64 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, serving as a vital water resource in the area. The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently in fair condition, as assessed during the last inspection in February 2021.
Situated on Swift Creek-Tr, the N C S U Lake Dam #1 is owned by the state and falls under the jurisdiction of the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. It is regularly inspected and permitted by state regulatory agencies to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with safety standards. With a maximum discharge capacity of 50 cfs, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and supply in the region. Despite its age, the dam remains a reliable infrastructure for water management and conservation efforts in Wake County.
Overall, N C S U Lake Dam #1 serves as a key component of the local water infrastructure in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributing to irrigation, storage, and water management needs. With its low hazard potential and fair condition, the dam continues to play a vital role in ensuring water security and resource sustainability in the area. As a state-regulated structure, it undergoes regular inspections and maintenance to uphold safety standards and protect the surrounding community from potential risks associated with dam failure.
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 N C S U Lake Dam #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Branch Below Pullen Drive At Raleigh | 0 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Mccullars Crossroads | 13 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Apex | 1 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Sunnybrook Drive Nr Raleigh | 4 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Us 1 At Raleigh | 17 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Hwy 70 At Raleigh | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near N C S U Lake Dam #1.
Boat launches
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Neuse River Trail Wake County
- Milburnie Dam Bridge Raleigh
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Neuse River Trail Raleigh
Campgrounds
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Durant Nature Park
- Blue Heron Campground
- Osprey Nest Campground
- Bootleg Point Campground
- Shoreline Campground
Track N C S U Lake Dam #1 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 N C S U Lake Dam #1
Where does the data for N C S U Lake Dam #1 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 N C S U Lake Dam #1.