Laurel Thicket Pond Dam dam
Laurel Thicket Pond Dam
Laurel Thicket Pond Dam, located in Lee, North Carolina, is a private earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Standing at a structural height of 16.5 feet with a hydraulic height of 14.5 feet, this dam plays a significant role in the management of the Upper Little River-Tr. With a storage capacity of 16.5 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.5 acres, this dam has been deemed to have a significant hazard potential, although its condition is currently assessed as fair.
Managed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Laurel Thicket Pond Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam has had its last inspection in January 2021 and is scheduled for regular inspections every two years to ensure its safety and compliance with regulatory standards. Despite its fair condition assessment, the dam's hazard potential underscores the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to mitigate any risks associated with its operation.
With its location in a beautiful natural setting, Laurel Thicket Pond Dam offers recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the crucial role of dams like this in providing both recreational benefits and potential hazards that must be managed effectively to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the environment.
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 Laurel Thicket Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 7 cfs | → |
| Deep River At Moncure | 76 cfs | → |
| Cape Fear River At Lillington | 554 cfs | → |
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 2 cfs | → |
| Little River At Manchester | 31 cfs | → |
| Tick Creek Near Mount Vernon Springs | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Laurel Thicket Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Highway 42 1-199, Sanford
- Carolina Way 956, Harnett County
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
- Jordan Dam Road 935, Chatham County
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
- Dewberry Drive Whispering Pines
Campgrounds
- San Lee County Park
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Smith Lake Army Rv Military - Ft Bragg
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Hickory Campsite
Fishing spots
Track Laurel Thicket Pond 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 Laurel Thicket Pond Dam
Where does the data for Laurel Thicket Pond 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 Significant 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 Laurel Thicket Pond Dam.