Point East Dam dam
Point East Dam
Point East Dam, located in Tar Heel, North Carolina, along Kirks Mill Creek, serves as a vital water resource and recreational site in Cumberland County. This private dam, with a hydraulic height of 13 feet and a structural height of 17 feet, provides a surface area of 6.9 acres and a storage capacity of 113 acre-feet. With a maximum discharge of 1000 cubic feet per second, Point East Dam offers opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities while also serving as a critical water management structure in the region.
Despite its importance, Point East Dam poses a high hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition as of the last inspection in July 2020. While the dam meets state inspection requirements, it lacks a formal assessment of its structural integrity and emergency action plan preparedness. As a private facility, Point East Dam operates without state regulation or permitting, highlighting the need for improved risk management measures and emergency response protocols to ensure the safety of nearby communities and the environment in case of a potential failure or disaster.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the intricacies of dam infrastructure and management would find Point East Dam a compelling case study. Its unique location, design characteristics, and operational challenges offer insights into the complexities of balancing water resource utilization for recreation and environmental conservation, as well as the importance of proactive risk assessment and emergency preparedness in safeguarding communities and ecosystems downstream.
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 Point East Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Fear R At Wilm O Huske Lock Nr Tarheel | 770 cfs | → |
| Big Swamp Nr Tarheel | 3 cfs | → |
| Lumber River At Lumberton | 156 cfs | → |
| Rockfish Creek At Raeford | 35 cfs | → |
| Little River At Manchester | 36 cfs | → |
| Lumber River Near Maxton | 119 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Point East Dam.
Campgrounds
- Jones Lake State Park
- Smith Lake Army Rv Military - Ft Bragg
- John Culberth Campsite
- Buck Landing Campsite
- Piney Island Campsite
- Chalk Banks - Lumber River State Park
Track Point East 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 Point East Dam
Where does the data for Point East 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 High 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 Point East Dam.