Mcelven Dam dam
Mcelven Dam
Mcelven Dam, located in Wake Forest, North Carolina, is a privately-owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Completed in 1997, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 25 feet, with a hydraulic height of 21 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 17 acre-feet. Situated along the Neuse River, this dam covers a surface area of 2 acres and has a drainage area of 40 square miles.
With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of January 2018, Mcelven Dam is deemed to be in good standing for the safety of surrounding communities and the environment. Although not state-regulated, the dam undergoes regular inspections to ensure its integrity and functionality. Despite its modest size, the dam provides a valuable recreational resource for the local area, offering opportunities for activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing.
Managed by a private entity, Mcelven Dam contributes to the overall water resource management in the region, providing both recreational benefits and potential flood control measures. Its presence along the Neuse River adds to the ecological diversity of the area and offers a tranquil setting for visitors to enjoy. As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like Mcelven Dam play a crucial role in maintaining the balance between human needs and environmental sustainability.
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 Mcelven Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neuse River Near Falls | 123 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Hwy 70 At Raleigh | 13 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Cr At Ebenezer Church Rd Nr Raleigh | 14 cfs | → |
| Marsh C Nr New Hope | 1 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Us 1 At Raleigh | 17 cfs | → |
| Ellerbe Creek Near Gorman | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcelven Dam.
Boat launches
- Barton's Creek Boat Ramp
- Falls Lake Trail Wake County
- Durham County
- Creedmoor Road 13900, Town Of Wake Forest
- Duck Cove Trail Wake County
- Baptist Route 4398, Durham County
Campgrounds
- Blue Heron Campground
- Osprey Nest Campground
- Bootleg Point Campground
- Shortleaf Pine Campground
- Shoreline Campground
- Overlook Campground
Fishing spots
- Beaverdam Creek
- Falls Of The Neuse Reservoir
- Lake Raleigh Public Fishing Area
- Buckwater Creek
- Bass Lake
- Jordan Lake
More reservoirs
Track Mcelven 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 Mcelven Dam
Where does the data for Mcelven 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 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 Mcelven Dam.