Phelps Lake Dam dam
Phelps Lake Dam
Located in Lagrange, North Carolina, Phelps Lake Dam, also known as Bear Creek W/S Dam#15, is a private-owned structure designed by USDA NRCS to primarily reduce flood risks in the area. Completed in 1962, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 19.3 feet with a hydraulic height of 8.3 feet, serving the purpose of flood risk reduction and recreation. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 73 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 330 cubic feet per second, providing essential water resource management for the surrounding community.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk rating, Phelps Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition but underwent its last inspection in March 2016. Despite not being regulated by the state, the dam is inspected periodically to ensure its structural integrity and safety. While the dam has uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates, it serves as a crucial infrastructure for managing water flow along Bear Creek-Tr, covering a drainage area of 838 acres. As a key element in the region's flood risk reduction strategy, Phelps Lake Dam plays a vital role in water resource management and environmental conservation efforts in Greene County, North Carolina.
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 Phelps Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nahunta Swamp Near Shine | 4 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Mays Store | 98 cfs | → |
| Neuse River Near Goldsboro | 262 cfs | → |
| Contentnea Creek At Hookerton | 47 cfs | → |
| Neuse River At Kinston | 339 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Princeton | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Phelps Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Old Pink Hill Road 963, Lenoir County
- 777-1799 Ferry Bridge Rd, Grantham, Nc
- South Street 204, Grifton
- Highway 222 3029, Fountain
- Maple Cypress Road Craven County
- North Side Street Greenville
Campgrounds
- Seymour Johnson Afb Military
- Cliffs Of The Neuse State Park
- Neuseway Nature Park
- Contentnea Creekside City Park
- Cabin Lake County Park
- Rvacation Campground
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 Phelps 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 Phelps Lake Dam
Where does the data for Phelps 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 Phelps Lake Dam.