Petty Lake Dam dam
Petty Lake Dam
Petty Lake Dam, also known as Bucher Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Redwood, Durham, North Carolina. Completed in 1962, this earth dam serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with additional benefits for recreation. Standing at 25 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 21 feet, the dam spans 780 feet and has a storage capacity of 131 acre-feet. Situated on the Neuse River-Tr, it covers a surface area of 13.1 acres and drains a watershed area of 141 square miles.
Despite its age, Petty Lake Dam has been regularly inspected, with the most recent assessment in February 2020 rating its condition as fair and hazard potential as low. The dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring that it meets state standards for safety and operation. While there are no associated locks or spillways, the dam's design and construction have proven effective in managing water flow and storage in the region. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Petty Lake Dam serves as a valuable example of sustainable water management practices in 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 Petty Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ellerbe Creek Near Gorman | 12 cfs | → |
| Knap Of Reeds Creek Near Butner | 8 cfs | → |
| Little R Bl Little R Trib At Fairntosh | 49 cfs | → |
| Eno River Near Durham | 14 cfs | → |
| Flat River Trib Nr Willardville | 0 cfs | → |
| Flat River At Dam Near Bahama | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Petty Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hickory Hill Boat Ramp
- Baptist Route 4398, Durham County
- Ledge Rock Boat Ramp, Creedmoor
- Rodolphe Street 6122, Durham
- Durham County
- Creedmoor Road 13900, Town Of Wake Forest
Campgrounds
- Redwood Campsite
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Holly Point - Falls Lake
- Two Oaks Campground
- Shortleaf Pine Campground
- Blue Heron Campground
Track Petty 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 Petty Lake Dam
Where does the data for Petty 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 Petty Lake Dam.