Smith Lake Dam dam
Smith Lake Dam
Smith Lake Dam, located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is a privately owned Earth dam on the Cape Fear River. With a structural height of 10 feet and a hydraulic height of 6 feet, the dam serves multiple purposes including flood control and water storage. Completed with a storage capacity of 73 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 20 acres and has a drainage area of 826 square miles. Despite its low hazard potential and the absence of state regulation, the dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and integrity.
The dam, managed by private owners, has not been rated for its condition assessment, with the last inspection taking place in 2008. While the dam has not undergone significant modifications or improvements in recent years, its emergency action plan status and risk management measures are not clearly documented. With a maximum discharge capacity of 330 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and storage in the region. The dam's location on the Cape Fear River-Tr provides essential water resources for the surrounding area and supports various ecological and recreational activities.
Smith Lake Dam, nestled in Cumberland County, North Carolina, is a vital structure contributing to water resource management and climate resilience in the region. As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to monitor and advocate for sustainable practices, the importance of maintaining and regulating dams like Smith Lake Dam cannot be overstated. With its strategic location and functional design, the dam serves as a key asset in protecting communities, ecosystems, and waterways from the impacts of changing climate patterns and increasing water-related risks.
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 | 55 cfs | → |
| Cape Fear River At Lillington | 566 cfs | → |
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 3 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 23 cfs | → |
| Cape Fear R At Wilm O Huske Lock Nr Tarheel | 889 cfs | → |
| Middle Creek Near Clayton | 18 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
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.