Smith Lake Dam dam
Smith Lake Dam
Smith Lake Dam in Harnett, North Carolina, stands as a vital structure along the North Prong Anderson Creek, serving primarily for irrigation purposes since its completion in 1935. This private earth dam, with a hydraulic height of 27 feet and a structural height of 18 feet, boasts a capacity of 194 acre-feet of water storage for agricultural needs. Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the last inspection in July 2013 underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure continued safety and functionality.
Situated in the city of Linden, Smith Lake Dam not only supports irrigation but also offers recreational opportunities within its 12.3-acre surface area. Its location within the Wilmington District underlines the significance of water resource management in the region, with a maximum storage capacity of 194 acre-feet for sustainable water usage. While not federally regulated, the dam's operation and inspection by the state of North Carolina affirm its essential role in local water supply and environmental conservation efforts.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Smith Lake Dam represents a historical landmark of water management in North Carolina, embodying the delicate balance between human needs and ecological preservation. As a private earth dam with a notable irrigation and recreational purpose, its presence underscores the importance of responsible stewardship of water resources in the face of changing climate patterns. Continued vigilance and investment in infrastructure maintenance are essential to ensure the longevity and safety of Smith Lake Dam for future generations to come.
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 Smith Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River At Manchester | 50 cfs | → |
| Cape Fear River At Lillington | 484 cfs | → |
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 3 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 17 cfs | → |
| Deep River At Moncure | 90 cfs | → |
| Rockfish Creek At Raeford | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Smith Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Carolina Way 956, Harnett County
- Highway 42 1-199, Sanford
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
- Dewberry Drive Whispering Pines
- Shadow Drive 93, Whispering Pines
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Smith 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 Smith Lake Dam
Where does the data for Smith 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 Smith Lake Dam.