Lake Unity Dam dam
Lake Unity Dam
Lake Unity Dam, also known as Cardinal Lake, is a private dam located in Durham, North Carolina, specifically in the city of Falls. Completed in 1956, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 24 feet and has a hydraulic height of 18.25 feet. It serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a storage capacity of 88.4 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Chunky Pipe Creek-Tr river and is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program.
With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of February 2019, Lake Unity Dam provides a safe and enjoyable environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts. The dam has a regular inspection frequency of 5 years to ensure its continued structural integrity. While no associated structures or spillways are reported, the dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and inundation maps preparedness are currently unspecified. As a private entity, Lake Unity Dam remains an essential feature in the local water resource infrastructure, offering both recreational opportunities and potential benefits for the surrounding community.
Located in a picturesque setting, Lake Unity Dam is an integral part of the water management system in Durham, North Carolina. As a privately owned structure with a focus on recreation, the dam provides a tranquil retreat for visitors while serving as a regulated and inspected asset by the state. Its historical significance, combined with its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, underscores the importance of maintaining and monitoring this dam to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all who visit.
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 Unity Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ellerbe Creek Near Gorman | 18 cfs | → |
| Eno River Near Durham | 16 cfs | → |
| Little R Bl Little R Trib At Fairntosh | 49 cfs | → |
| Knap Of Reeds Creek Near Butner | 9 cfs | → |
| Flat River Trib Nr Willardville | 0 cfs | → |
| Flat River At Dam Near Bahama | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Unity Dam.
Boat launches
- Hickory Hill Boat Ramp
- Baptist Route 4398, Durham County
- Durham County
- Rodolphe Street 6122, Durham
- Ledge Rock Boat Ramp, Creedmoor
- Creedmoor Road 13900, Town Of Wake Forest
Campgrounds
- Redwood Campsite
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Holly Point - Falls Lake
- Two Oaks Campground
- Blue Heron Campground
- Osprey Nest Campground
Track Lake Unity 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 Unity Dam
Where does the data for Lake Unity 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 Low 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 Unity Dam.