Turfgrass Lake Dam #3 dam
Turfgrass Lake Dam #3
Turfgrass Lake Dam #3, located in Smithfield, North Carolina, serves primarily for irrigation purposes and also provides recreational opportunities. Constructed in 1950, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 15 feet and has a length of 480 feet. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 70 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 85 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 704 acres.
Managed by a private owner, Turfgrass Lake Dam #3 is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Dam Safety Program. The dam has a high hazard potential but was last assessed to be in satisfactory condition in March 2020. Despite its age, the dam has been regularly inspected every two years to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
While Turfgrass Lake Dam #3 has not had any major modifications in recent years, it remains a crucial infrastructure for water resource management in the Crabtree Creek watershed. The dam's location and design make it a key element in the local irrigation system, providing essential water supply for agricultural purposes in the region. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the importance of structures like Turfgrass Lake Dam #3 is vital for ensuring sustainable water management practices in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Turfgrass Lake Dam #3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut Creek At Sunnybrook Drive Nr Raleigh | 4 cfs | → |
| Marsh C Nr New Hope | 1 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Us 1 At Raleigh | 17 cfs | → |
| Rocky Branch Below Pullen Drive At Raleigh | 0 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Hwy 70 At Raleigh | 13 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Mccullars Crossroads | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Turfgrass Lake Dam #3.
Boat launches
- Milburnie Dam Bridge Raleigh
- Neuse River Trail Wake County
- Neuse River Trail Raleigh
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Lake Trail Wake County
Campgrounds
- Durant Nature Park
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Blue Heron Campground
- Osprey Nest Campground
- Bootleg Point Campground
- Shoreline Campground
Track Turfgrass Lake Dam #3 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 Turfgrass Lake Dam #3
Where does the data for Turfgrass Lake Dam #3 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 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 Turfgrass Lake Dam #3.