Lochmere Dam dam
Lochmere Dam
Lochmere Dam, also known as Lynn's Branch Impoundment, is a private-owned structure located in Wake, North Carolina. Completed in 1985, this earth-type dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a surface area of 70 acres and a storage capacity of 728 acre-feet. With a hydraulic height of 14 feet and a structural height of 26 feet, the dam poses a high hazard potential but is currently rated as satisfactory in condition assessment as of December 2019.
Managed by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Lochmere Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam overlooks Lynn's Branch, a tributary of the Cape Fear River, and is situated within the Wilmington District. Despite not having associated locks or spillways, the dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and management measures are unclear based on the available data.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lochmere Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately-owned structure designed for recreational use in North Carolina. Its location, design characteristics, and regulatory oversight highlight the importance of proper dam safety management in ensuring public safety and environmental protection. As concerns over climate change and extreme weather events continue to grow, understanding the management and maintenance of dams like Lochmere becomes crucial for sustainable water resource management in the region.
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 Lochmere Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Swift Creek Near Apex | 0 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Mccullars Crossroads | 13 cfs | → |
| Rocky Branch Below Pullen Drive At Raleigh | 0 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Cr At Ebenezer Church Rd Nr Raleigh | 13 cfs | → |
| White Oak Cr At Mouth Near Green Level | · | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Hwy 70 At Raleigh | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lochmere Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
- Neuse River Trail Wake County
- Milburnie Dam Bridge Raleigh
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
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
Track Lochmere 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 Lochmere Dam
Where does the data for Lochmere 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 Lochmere Dam.