Ammons Lake Dam Upper dam
Ammons Lake Dam Upper
Ammons Lake Dam Upper, also known as Winchester Lake Dam, is a private dam located in Raleigh, North Carolina, along Mine Creek. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a surface area of 4.2 acres and a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet. With a structural height of 24 feet and a hydraulic height of 20 feet, the dam poses a high hazard potential and has been rated in poor condition as of the last assessment in February 2018.
Despite being privately owned, the dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, which conducts regular inspections to ensure compliance with state regulations. The dam has a drainage area of 205 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 699 cubic feet per second. Its location in Wake County, under the jurisdiction of the state, underscores the importance of proper maintenance and enforcement to mitigate potential risks associated with the dam's condition.
Given its high hazard potential, the poor condition assessment, and the absence of recent risk management measures, it is crucial for the owners of Ammons Lake Dam Upper to prioritize safety and compliance with regulatory guidelines. Regular inspections, maintenance, and potential rehabilitation work may be necessary to ensure the structural integrity of the dam and minimize the risk of failure, especially in light of its location in a densely populated area like Raleigh. Water resource and climate enthusiasts should monitor the dam's status closely to ensure the protection of both the environment and nearby communities.
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 Ammons Lake Dam Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crabtree Creek At Hwy 70 At Raleigh | 13 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Cr At Ebenezer Church Rd Nr Raleigh | 14 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Us 1 At Raleigh | 17 cfs | → |
| Marsh C Nr New Hope | 1 cfs | → |
| Neuse River Near Falls | 123 cfs | → |
| Rocky Branch Below Pullen Drive At Raleigh | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ammons Lake Dam Upper.
Boat launches
- Barton's Creek Boat Ramp
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Neuse River Trail Raleigh
- Falls Lake Trail Wake County
- Durham County
Campgrounds
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Durant Nature Park
- Blue Heron Campground
- Osprey Nest Campground
- Bootleg Point Campground
- Shoreline Campground
Track Ammons Lake Dam Upper 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 Ammons Lake Dam Upper
Where does the data for Ammons Lake Dam Upper 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 Ammons Lake Dam Upper.