Lake Amberly Dam dam
Lake Amberly Dam
Lake Amberly Dam, also known as Morris Branch Lake Dam, is a private structure located in Wake, North Carolina. Completed in 2001, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 22.5 feet and has a hydraulic height of 11 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 91 acre-feet and a surface area of 14.1 acres, this dam serves primarily for recreational purposes along the Morris Branch river.
Managed and regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Dam Safety Program, Lake Amberly Dam has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in satisfactory condition. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last one taking place in February 2019. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam has not been modified in recent years and does not have a designated Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Amberly Dam offers a fascinating case study in private dam management and regulation. Its location in a densely populated area underscores the importance of effective monitoring and maintenance to ensure public safety and environmental protection. The dam's association with recreation adds another layer of interest, highlighting the dual roles that such structures often play in providing water storage and leisure opportunities for local communities.
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 Lake Amberly Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Creek At Sr1100 Nr Genlee | 8 cfs | → |
| White Oak Cr At Mouth Near Green Level | · | → |
| New Hope Creek Near Blands | 11 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near Chapel Hill | 6 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Cr At Ebenezer Church Rd Nr Raleigh | 14 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Apex | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Amberly Dam.
Boat launches
- Ferrington Boat Ramp, Chapel Hill
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Hanks Chapel Road 2765, Town Of Pittsboro
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
Campgrounds
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Redwood Campsite
Track Lake Amberly 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 Lake Amberly Dam
Where does the data for Lake Amberly 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 Lake Amberly Dam.