Bass Lake Dam dam
Bass Lake Dam
Bass Lake Dam, located in Spring Hope, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure built in 1960 primarily for irrigation purposes. This earth-type dam stands at a structural height of 30 feet and has a hydraulic height of 27 feet, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 70 acre-feet. The dam spans 220 feet in length and covers an area of 11 acres, with a normal storage level of 56 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, with state-permitted inspections and enforcement ensuring its safety and compliance.
Despite its low hazard potential and a condition assessment that is currently not rated, Bass Lake Dam plays a crucial role in the management of water resources in the region. The dam controls the flow of Turkey Creek-Tr, providing irrigation water for agricultural activities in Nash County. The dam has not undergone any significant modifications since its completion, and its last inspection in 2001 deemed it to be in satisfactory condition. Emergency action plans and risk management measures for the dam are currently not available, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of this vital water resource infrastructure.
As a key component of the water management system in the area, Bass Lake Dam serves as a vital resource for the local community. With its regulated operation and consistent storage capacity, the dam plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities and ensuring water availability for irrigation purposes. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of maintaining and monitoring structures like Bass Lake Dam becomes increasingly significant to safeguard against potential risks and ensure sustainable water management practices for the future.
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 Bass Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Swift Creek At Hilliardston | 858 cfs | → |
| Tar R At Us 401 At Louisburg | 18 cfs | → |
| Tar River At Nc 97 At Rocky Mount | 76 cfs | → |
| Little Fishing Creek Near White Oak | 7 cfs | → |
| Contentnea Creek Near Lucama | 38 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Near Enfield | 27 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bass Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Neuse River Trail Raleigh
- Milburnie Dam Bridge Raleigh
- Neuse River Trail Wake County
- Highway 33 3000-3432, Tarboro
Track Bass 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 Bass Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bass 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 Bass Lake Dam.