White Oak Lake Dam dam
White Oak Lake Dam
White Oak Lake Dam, also known as Lake Cramer Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Wake, North Carolina. This dam on Simmons Branch serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction and also provides recreational opportunities. With a hydraulic height of 13 feet and a structural height of 16 feet, it stands as a vital component in managing water resources in the area.
Despite its importance, White Oak Lake Dam has been assessed to have a high hazard potential and poor condition as of the last inspection in January 2020. The dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status and risk management measures remain unclear, raising concerns about its ability to withstand potential threats. With the dam being state-regulated and regularly inspected, there is a hope that necessary improvements will be made to ensure its safety and effectiveness for both flood control and recreational purposes.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, attention to structures like White Oak Lake Dam is crucial in understanding the complexities of managing water flow and mitigating risks in changing environmental conditions. With its location in the Wilmington District and oversight by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, the future of White Oak Lake Dam will depend on proactive maintenance and risk mitigation strategies to safeguard both the local community and the surrounding natural 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 White Oak Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Branch Below Pullen Drive At Raleigh | 0 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Apex | 1 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Hwy 70 At Raleigh | 13 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Cr At Ebenezer Church Rd Nr Raleigh | 14 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Mccullars Crossroads | 13 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Us 1 At Raleigh | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near White Oak Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Milburnie Dam Bridge Raleigh
- Neuse River Trail Wake County
- Neuse River Trail Raleigh
Campgrounds
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Durant Nature Park
- Blue Heron Campground
- Osprey Nest Campground
- Bootleg Point Campground
- Shortleaf Pine Campground
Track White Oak 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 White Oak Lake Dam
Where does the data for White Oak 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 White Oak Lake Dam.