Whitley Lake Dam Dam
Whitley Lake Dam
Whitley Lake Dam, also known as Bear Creek W/S Dam #11, is a privately owned structure located in Lagrange, North Carolina. Constructed in 1962 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along Bear Creek. With a hydraulic height of 8 feet and a structural height of 21 feet, the dam has a capacity to store up to 700 acre-feet of water, covering a surface area of 58.5 acres.
Managed by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, Whitley Lake Dam is regularly inspected to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition is deemed satisfactory as of the last assessment in December 2020. With a moderate risk rating of 3, the dam remains an essential piece of infrastructure for managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region.
With its historical significance and vital role in flood risk reduction, Whitley Lake Dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management in North Carolina. As climate change continues to impact the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the importance of well-maintained structures like Whitley Lake Dam becomes increasingly crucial in safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the impacts of flooding.
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 Whitley Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nahunta Swamp Near Shine | 10 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Mays Store | 98 cfs | → |
| Neuse River Near Goldsboro | 1,550 cfs | → |
| Contentnea Creek At Hookerton | 147 cfs | → |
| Neuse River At Kinston | 2,260 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Princeton | 60 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whitley Lake Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Whitley Lake Dam
Where does the data for Whitley 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 below 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.
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.