Jernigan Lake Dam dam
Jernigan Lake Dam
Jernigan Lake Dam, located in North Carolina's Harnett County, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreation. Built in 1950, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 10 feet and has a hydraulic height of 8 feet, with a length of 108 feet. The dam stores water from Stuart Creek-Tr, providing a maximum storage capacity of 50 acre-feet and a normal storage of 42 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam has not been rated for its condition since its last inspection in 2008.
Situated in the city of Turlington, Jernigan Lake Dam has a surface area of 11 acres and serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities. With a drainage area of 627 square miles and a maximum discharge of 297 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. While it is not regulated by the state, the dam undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety for the surrounding community.
In the realm of water resource and climate enthusiasts, Jernigan Lake Dam stands as a modest yet significant infrastructure for both recreational and water management purposes. Its history, design, and capacity offer insights into the intersection of human intervention and natural systems, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices in harnessing and preserving vital water resources for future generations.
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 Jernigan Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Fear River At Lillington | 554 cfs | → |
| Middle Creek Near Clayton | 8 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Mccullars Crossroads | 13 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 7 cfs | → |
| Neuse River Near Clayton | 238 cfs | → |
| Little River At Manchester | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Jernigan Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Buffalo Creek Greenway Smithfield
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
- Carolina Way 956, Harnett County
- Highway 42 1-199, Sanford
Campgrounds
- Smith Lake Army Rv Military - Ft Bragg
- Rvacation Campground
- San Lee County Park
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
Fishing spots
Track Jernigan 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 Jernigan Lake Dam
Where does the data for Jernigan 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 Jernigan Lake Dam.