Swan Lake Dam dam
Swan Lake Dam
Located in Southern Pines, North Carolina, Swan Lake Dam stands as a vital structure on Aberdeen Creek, serving primarily for recreational purposes. This private-owned earth dam boasts a hydraulic height of 10 feet and a structural height of 12 feet, with a length of 325 feet. The dam provides a maximum storage capacity of 24 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 18 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 5 acres and draining an area of 218 acres.
Despite its fair condition assessment as of October 2020, Swan Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential, prompting biennial inspections to ensure its safety and regulatory compliance. The dam falls under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, which oversees its permitting, inspection, and enforcement activities. While the dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years, it remains crucial for water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate conservation can appreciate Swan Lake Dam's role in providing recreational opportunities while also recognizing the importance of maintaining its integrity and safety. As a key component of the local watershed, this earth dam serves as a reminder of the careful balance required to manage water resources effectively and mitigate potential risks associated with aging infrastructure. Monitoring and stewardship efforts are essential to ensure the continued functionality and resilience of Swan Lake Dam in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Swan Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 43 cfs | → |
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 3 cfs | → |
| Rockfish Creek At Raeford | 50 cfs | → |
| Little River At Manchester | 55 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Star | 7 cfs | → |
| Lumber River Near Maxton | 187 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Swan Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Niagara Carthage Road 3326, Whispering Pines
- Dewberry Drive Whispering Pines
- Shadow Drive 93, Whispering Pines
- Carolina Way 956, Harnett County
Campgrounds
- Hickory Campsite
- Sweetgum Campsite
- Loblolly Campsite
- Camp Durant
- Camp Reeves
- Chalk Banks - Lumber River State Park
Fishing spots
Track Swan 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 Swan Lake Dam
Where does the data for Swan 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 Swan Lake Dam.