Richland Lake water level — North Carolina
Richland Lake in North Carolina was last measured at 300.04 ft (datum NAVD88), as of Aug 31, 2026, 4:15 AM (UTC-04:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−0.2 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- Not reported
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−0.2 ft over the trend window
Recent trend
Readings this station published between Jun 2, 2026 and Aug 31, 2026 — a 89-day window — downsampled for display.
Data: USGS Water Services (waterservices.usgs.gov) and USACE CWMS Data (cwms-data.usace.army.mil), retrieved 2026-08-31. Both public domain (a work of the U.S. Government, 17 U.S.C. §105).
Source: USGS site 0208726390, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →
About this gauge's record
This site's drainage basin covers approximately 5 sq mi of contributing watershed.
The dam behind Richland Lake
Richland Lake is held back by Crabtree Creek WS Dam #11-A (also recorded as Richland Lake Dam) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 54 ft high and running 745 ft along its crest , built across Richland Creek in Wake County , near Raleigh . It was completed in 1980 , and is owned by Wake County Community Development Services (a local government owner) .
Its recorded primary purpose is flood risk reduction — the pool is drawn down between storms so there is empty space waiting for the next flood, which is why this level can fall in dry weather and climb sharply after rain . It also serves flood risk reduction;other.
NID classes it high hazard potential. That describes what a failure would cost downstream — loss of life would be expected — and says nothing about how likely a failure is, or what condition the dam is in. Its most recent condition assessment was satisfactory — no deficiencies recognised for expected loading. That assessment is dated 11/21/2024.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 45 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 3,327 acre-ft against a normal storage of 323 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 24,610 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by NCDEQ, DEMLR, Dam Safety Program.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record NC01720 , filed by North Carolina — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, public domain. Water levels above come from USGS Water Services and are a separate source. (How this dam was matched to this gauge →)
How Richland Lake compares nearby
4 of 6 nearby lakes with a current trend are also falling right now.
Nearby lakes
The six nearest published lakes by centroid distance (great-circle) — cross-state neighbors included.
| Lake | State | Level | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Crabtree | NC | 275.35 ft | 5 km |
| Lake Lynn | NC | 333.51 ft | 6 km |
| Shelley Lake at Shelley Lake Park at Raleigh | NC | 251.09 ft | 7 km |
| Lake Johnson | NC | 343.27 ft | 8 km |
| Brier Creek Reservoir | NC | 305.62 ft | 9 km |
| Sorrells Grove Reservoir | NC | 303.16 ft | 10 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Richland Lake?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 4:15 AM (UTC-04:00), the pool elevation was 300.04 ft (datum NAVD88), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Richland Lake full right now?
- Its managing agency does not publish a %-of-conservation-pool-full figure for this lake, so we show the bare level rather than estimate one.
- Where does this data come from?
- From USGS site 0208726390, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in North Carolina
See every lake tracked in North Carolina, or read the methodology behind these figures.