Introduction
Often, we overlook where our water comes from; a knob is turned and water flows out. Under normal conditions this is an expected part of daily life, but for the past few months our region has not been under normal conditions. North Carolina is currently facing its worst drought in almost two decades. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, 90.4% of the state’s land area is under severe to exceptional drought. With heightened attention towards our water resources, it is a good time to consider where our water comes from and what has been done to keep it flowing, both in our homes and our rivers.
Falls Lake & Dam Services
In Raleigh, North Carolina, the majority of drinking water comes from Falls Lake, a reservoir in northern Wake County. This “lake,” like all others in North Carolina’s Piedmont region, is artificial. Falls Lake was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1978 and 1981 by damming the Neuse River. Dams are created for various purposes, and can provide energy production, industrial cooling, irrigation, flood mitigation, water storage, and recreational activity. Falls Lake was constructed to aid in flood mitigation along the Neuse River and provide drinking water to the surrounding area. During extreme rainfall, the lake is able to reduce peak flows by storing excess water and gradually releasing it downstream, offsetting potential flood damage in the Neuse River Basin. Conversely, during extreme drought the lake continues to provide drinking water. As of June 16, 2026, the lake’s water supply dropped to 66%. APNEP staff visited Falls Lake to observe the changes.
As a result of the drought, Raleigh Water implemented Stage 1 water-use restrictions limiting outdoor watering for those on the public water supply system. If water levels continue to decrease at the current rate, there will be further restrictions.
Falls Lake delivers far more than the water‑supply and flood‑control functions it was originally built for. It now supports recreation, local jobs, wildlife, and cleaner water. Some of these added benefits, however, create competing effects that can limit how well others work.
Dam Trade-offs
Dams can be expensive to construct. The 1965 estimate for the Falls Lake project was $18.6 million, but by 1973, the estimate inflated to $59.1 million. This did not even account for continued maintenance and staffing expenses, which are necessary as abandoned dams can cause environmental and safety hazards. They block debris, wildlife corridors, and pose the risk of rupture or collapse.
Although dams may improve water quality by helping low flows, which reduce concentrations of pollutants and sediments downstream, reservoirs are vulnerable to water quality issues. Dams can trap excess nutrients that promote algal blooms. These blooms deplete oxygen as they decompose, creating an inhospitable environment that can result in fish kills. Additionally, reservoirs are more prone to evaporation than the streams they feed from, which can worsen water quality when the proportion of water relative to contaminants decreases.
Though dams can prevent flooding downstream, they require submerging the upstream surroundings. What is now Falls Lake looked completely different a few decades ago. The lake is named for the Falls of the Neuse, a former section of the river characterized by whitewater and waterfalls. Surrounding the falls were farms and a network of roads, now lost to time.
Just as dams can displace human communities, animal populations can also be displaced. The Neuse River is home to multiple species of anadromous fish, including American Shad, Hickory Shad, Striped Bass, Alewife, Shortnose Sturgeon, and Atlantic Sturgeon. These are fish that migrate upstream from our estuaries to headwaters to spawn. Dams block their migratory routes and significantly impede their ability to reproduce. If you would like to learn more about these fish, watch the video linked below.
Species Series Episode 3: Anadromous Fish
Some dams have been demolished after passing their usefulness. Dams on the Neuse that have been demolished include the Quaker Neck, Cherry Hospital, and Milburnie dams. Quaker Neck, located in Goldsboro, NC, was the first dam removed for ecological purposes in the United States. These removals opened up almost the entirety of the Neuse River to spawning, and American Shad have been observed spawning further upstream. If you are interested in learning more, read the two APNEP blogs linked below that describe North Carolina’s role in dam removal and its impact on the Neuse River.
Reflection
Falls Lake is just one example of how dams shape our region. They come with significant costs and benefits to both humans and wildlife. During this time of drought, reflect on the waters around you and how we play a role in the flow of water through our landscapes.