Lunker Lake dam
Lunker Lake
Lunker Lake, also known as Harold Benton's Pond, is a private water resource located in Lagrange, North Carolina. Managed by the Wayne-021 state agency, this man-made lake serves primarily for irrigation purposes but is also utilized for recreation. With a normal storage capacity of 83 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 125 acre-feet, Lunker Lake covers a surface area of 12 acres and has a hydraulic height of 17.3 feet.
Constructed as an earth dam with a structural height of 26 feet and a length of 505 feet, Lunker Lake boasts a low hazard potential and is currently in fair condition as of the last inspection in October 2016. The dam is under state jurisdiction and regulation by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, ensuring its compliance with safety standards and maintenance requirements. Despite its private ownership, the lake provides a valuable water source for irrigation and a recreational destination for locals and visitors alike.
Situated along Bear Creek-Tr in Wayne County, Lunker Lake is a picturesque reservoir offering a tranquil retreat for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With its scenic surroundings and sustainable water management practices, this hidden gem serves as a testament to the importance of responsible water usage and conservation efforts in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Lunker Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek At Mays Store | 98 cfs | → |
| Neuse River Near Goldsboro | 262 cfs | → |
| Nahunta Swamp Near Shine | 4 cfs | → |
| Contentnea Creek At Hookerton | 47 cfs | → |
| Neuse River At Kinston | 339 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Princeton | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lunker Lake.
Boat launches
- 777-1799 Ferry Bridge Rd, Grantham, Nc
- Old Pink Hill Road 963, Lenoir County
- South Street 204, Grifton
- Buffalo Creek Greenway Smithfield
- Highway 222 3029, Fountain
Campgrounds
- Seymour Johnson Afb Military
- Cliffs Of The Neuse State Park
- Neuseway Nature Park
- Contentnea Creekside City Park
- Rvacation Campground
- Cabin Lake County Park
Fishing spots
- Beaverdam Run
- Buckhorn Reservoir
- Gazebo On The Pond
- Blounts Creek
- Sloan’S Bridge Boating Access Area
- Lake Raleigh Public Fishing Area
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To 1.24 River Miles Upstream From Us Hwy 17 Bridge
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With Trent River
- Brice Creek From Confluence With East/West Prongs To Nf Boundary Past Brice Creek Boat Ramp
- 1.25 Miles Upstream From Hwy 17 Bridge To Black Swamp Creek
- West Prong From Sr 1100 To Fs Road 121-2
- Fs Road 121-2 To Confluence With Brice Creek
More reservoirs
Track Lunker Lake 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 Lunker Lake
Where does the data for Lunker Lake 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 Low 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 Lunker Lake.