Hamilton Lake Dam dam
Hamilton Lake Dam
Hamilton Lake Dam in Chalebeate Springs, North Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam that serves the primary purpose of recreation. Situated on UT Kenneth Creek, this dam has a structural height of 9 feet and a length of 210 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 24 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, Hamilton Lake Dam continues to attract water resource and climate enthusiasts due to its picturesque location and recreational opportunities. With a surface area of 3.9 acres and a drainage area of 63 square miles, the dam offers a serene environment for activities such as fishing, boating, and bird watching. While the dam does not have a spillway or outlet gates, its last inspection in February 2021 indicates that it is being actively monitored for any potential risks or issues.
Visitors to Hamilton Lake Dam can appreciate its natural beauty while also being reassured by the ongoing maintenance and regulatory oversight in place. As climate change impacts water resources across the country, the importance of well-maintained dams like Hamilton Lake Dam becomes increasingly evident. With a commitment to safety and environmental stewardship, this dam serves as a valuable resource for both recreation and water management in Harnett County, North Carolina.
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 Hamilton Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 8 cfs | → |
| Cape Fear River At Lillington | 542 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Mccullars Crossroads | 13 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Apex | 0 cfs | → |
| Middle Creek Near Clayton | 7 cfs | → |
| White Oak Cr At Mouth Near Green Level | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hamilton Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
- Highway 42 1-199, Sanford
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Jordan Dam Road 935, Chatham County
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
Campgrounds
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- San Lee County Park
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Durant Nature Park
Fishing spots
Track Hamilton 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 Hamilton Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hamilton 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 Hamilton Lake Dam.