Crystal Lake Dam dam
Crystal Lake Dam
Crystal Lake Dam, located in Spring Lake, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Situated on Little Bridge Creek, this earth-type dam stands at a hydraulic height of 23 feet with a structural height of 25 feet and a length of 675 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 258 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 229 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 12 acres.
Despite its fair condition assessment as of February 2021, Crystal Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential, prompting biennial inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, the dam is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols. With a history of modifications undisclosed, the dam lacks detailed risk assessment and management measures, underscoring the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks associated with its operation.
In the event of emergencies, the dam's Emergency Action Plan status and adherence to guidelines remain unspecified, raising concerns about preparedness and response protocols. As a vital component of the local water resource management system, Crystal Lake Dam serves as a focal point for water and climate enthusiasts interested in understanding the interplay between recreational infrastructure, regulatory oversight, and risk management in safeguarding critical water resources within the Harnett County region.
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 Crystal Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River At Manchester | 28 cfs | → |
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 2 cfs | → |
| Cape Fear River At Lillington | 542 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 8 cfs | → |
| Rockfish Creek At Raeford | 30 cfs | → |
| Deep River At Moncure | 54 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crystal Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Carolina Way 956, Harnett County
- Dewberry Drive Whispering Pines
- Shadow Drive 93, Whispering Pines
- Niagara Carthage Road 3326, Whispering Pines
- Highway 42 1-199, Sanford
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
Campgrounds
- Smith Lake Army Rv Military - Ft Bragg
- San Lee County Park
- Hickory Campsite
- Sweetgum Campsite
- Camp Durant
- Loblolly Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Crystal 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 Crystal Lake Dam
Where does the data for Crystal 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 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 Crystal Lake Dam.