Waters Millpond Dam dam
Waters Millpond Dam
Waters Millpond Dam, located in Kinston, North Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1855. With a primary purpose of recreation, this dam stands at a hydraulic height of 13 feet and a structural height of 15 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 166 acre-feet. The dam spans 400 feet in length and covers a surface area of 30 acres, serving as a popular spot for outdoor activities and water sports.
Despite its significant hazard potential, Waters Millpond Dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in September 2019. While the dam is not regulated by the state, it is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and structural integrity. With a drainage area of 1152 square miles and a maximum discharge of 198 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region and protecting against potential flooding events.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Waters Millpond Dam to be an intriguing example of historic dam infrastructure in North Carolina. With its rich history dating back to the 19th century and its continued importance for recreational purposes, this earth dam serves as a reminder of the intersection between human activity and the natural environment. As efforts are made to maintain and inspect the dam for safety, it stands as a symbol of both the challenges and opportunities in managing water resources in 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 Waters Millpond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek At Mays Store | 98 cfs | → |
| Neuse River At Kinston | 339 cfs | → |
| Nahunta Swamp Near Shine | 4 cfs | → |
| Contentnea Creek At Hookerton | 47 cfs | → |
| Neuse River Near Goldsboro | 262 cfs | → |
| Trent River Near Trenton | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Waters Millpond Dam.
Boat launches
- Old Pink Hill Road 963, Lenoir County
- South Street 204, Grifton
- 777-1799 Ferry Bridge Rd, Grantham, Nc
- Maple Cypress Road Craven County
- North Side Street Greenville
- Highway 222 3029, Fountain
Campgrounds
- Cliffs Of The Neuse State Park
- Neuseway Nature Park
- Seymour Johnson Afb Military
- Contentnea Creekside City Park
- Cabin Lake County Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To 1.24 River Miles Upstream From Us Hwy 17 Bridge
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With Trent River
- Brice Creek From Confluence With East/West Prongs To Nf Boundary Past Brice Creek Boat Ramp
- 1.25 Miles Upstream From Hwy 17 Bridge To Black Swamp Creek
- West Prong From Sr 1100 To Fs Road 121-2
- Fs Road 121-2 To Confluence With Brice Creek
Track Waters Millpond 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 Waters Millpond Dam
Where does the data for Waters Millpond 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 Significant 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 Waters Millpond Dam.