Mcneil Lake Dam dam
Mcneil Lake Dam
Mcneil Lake Dam, located in Spring Lake, North Carolina, is a private earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a hydraulic height of 13 feet and a structural height of 18 feet, the dam offers a maximum storage capacity of 20 acre-feet. Despite its recreational appeal, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, with a high hazard potential, signaling the need for maintenance and potential risk management measures.
Managed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Mcneil Lake Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam overlooks the scenic Little River-Trib, providing an important source of water resource in the region. However, given its current condition and hazard potential, stakeholders and enthusiasts in water resource and climate sectors may advocate for necessary improvements to ensure the dam's long-term safety and sustainability.
With a history of modifications and regular inspection schedules, Mcneil Lake Dam remains a vital structure for recreation and water management in Moore County, North Carolina. As climate change impacts intensify, ensuring the dam's resilience and functionality becomes paramount. Engaging with state regulatory agencies, implementing risk management measures, and emphasizing dam safety protocols are crucial steps towards safeguarding this essential water resource infrastructure for future generations of enthusiasts and stakeholders alike.
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 Mcneil Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Creek Near Inverness | 3 cfs | → |
| Rockfish Creek At Raeford | 50 cfs | → |
| Little River At Manchester | 55 cfs | → |
| Drowning Creek Near Hoffman | 43 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 23 cfs | → |
| Cape Fear River At Lillington | 566 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcneil Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Dewberry Drive Whispering Pines
- Shadow Drive 93, Whispering Pines
- Niagara Carthage Road 3326, Whispering Pines
- Carolina Way 956, Harnett County
- Highway 42 1-199, Sanford
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →Track Mcneil Lake 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 Mcneil Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mcneil Lake 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 Mcneil Lake Dam.