Carolina Forest Lake Dam dam
Carolina Forest Lake Dam
Carolina Forest Lake Dam, also known as Shadywood Lake, is a private dam located in Lee County, North Carolina. Built in 1974, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 34.8 feet and has a hydraulic height of 29.8 feet. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, providing a surface area of 20 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy.
Operated and regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Carolina Forest Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and is deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of its last inspection in March 2012. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 290 acre-feet and is situated along the Little Pocket Creek, offering a serene and picturesque setting in the city of Lillington. Despite its age, the dam continues to serve its recreational purpose effectively.
With a history of regular inspections and maintenance, Carolina Forest Lake Dam ensures the safety of its surrounding community while providing a recreational haven for water resource and climate enthusiasts. This private dam, nestled in the heart of North Carolina, stands as a testament to responsible stewardship and the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate 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 Carolina Forest Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tick Creek Near Mount Vernon Springs | 1 cfs | → |
| Deep River At Moncure | 54 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 8 cfs | → |
| Haw River Near Bynum | 118 cfs | → |
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 2 cfs | → |
| Rocky R At Sr1300 Nr Crutchfield Crossroads | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carolina Forest Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Highway 42 1-199, Sanford
- Jordan Dam Road 935, Chatham County
- Shadow Drive 93, Whispering Pines
- Dewberry Drive Whispering Pines
- Niagara Carthage Road 3326, Whispering Pines
- Hanks Chapel Road 2765, Town Of Pittsboro
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Carolina Forest 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 Carolina Forest Lake Dam
Where does the data for Carolina Forest 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 Carolina Forest Lake Dam.