Morton Dam dam
Morton Dam
Morton Dam, located in Wake County, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of irrigation. This earth dam spans 350 feet in length and has a hydraulic height of 19 feet, providing a storage capacity of 53 acre-feet. The dam, situated on Terrible Creek-Tr, serves not only for irrigation but also for recreational purposes, making it a valuable resource for the local community.
Despite not being state-regulated, Morton Dam is subject to regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in January 2018 revealing a fair condition. With a significant hazard potential, it is crucial that the dam's emergency action plan is up to date and meets safety guidelines. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, its ongoing maintenance and risk management measures are essential to ensure the safety and integrity of this vital water resource.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Morton Dam to be a fascinating case study in private dam ownership and management. Its role in providing irrigation water and supporting recreational activities highlights the importance of sustainable water use in the region. With a keen focus on safety and risk management, Morton Dam serves as a reminder of the critical need for effective dam maintenance and emergency preparedness in safeguarding water resources for future generations.
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 Morton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Swift Creek Near Mccullars Crossroads | 13 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Apex | 0 cfs | → |
| Middle Creek Near Clayton | 8 cfs | → |
| Rocky Branch Below Pullen Drive At Raleigh | 0 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Sunnybrook Drive Nr Raleigh | 5 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Morton Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
- Neuse River Trail Wake County
- Lake Trail Wake County
Campgrounds
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Durant Nature Park
- San Lee County Park
Fishing spots
Track Morton 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 Morton Dam
Where does the data for Morton 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 Morton Dam.