Parkwood Lake Dam dam
Parkwood Lake Dam
Parkwood Lake Dam in Parkwood, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure built in 1962 primarily for recreational purposes. Situated on Northeast Creek, the dam has a hydraulic height of 25 feet and a structural height of 25 feet, with a length of 500 feet. It has a normal storage capacity of 205 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 318 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 448 acres.
Despite being privately owned, Parkwood Lake Dam is regulated by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, with state-mandated inspections and enforcement measures in place. The dam's hazard potential is categorized as high, but its current condition is assessed as satisfactory as of the most recent inspection in February 2021. The dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan in place, indicating potential areas for improvement in emergency preparedness.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Parkwood Lake Dam an interesting case study due to its recreational focus, regulation by state agencies, and high hazard potential. The dam's location on Northeast Creek and its impact on the surrounding environment make it a relevant topic for those interested in the intersection of water management, infrastructure safety, and environmental conservation.
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 Parkwood Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Creek At Sr1100 Nr Genlee | 8 cfs | → |
| New Hope Creek Near Blands | 11 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near Chapel Hill | 6 cfs | → |
| White Oak Cr At Mouth Near Green Level | · | → |
| Crabtree Cr At Ebenezer Church Rd Nr Raleigh | 14 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near White Cross | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Parkwood Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Ferrington Boat Ramp, Chapel Hill
- Durham County
- Baptist Route 4398, Durham County
- Hickory Hill Boat Ramp
- Rodolphe Street 6122, Durham
Campgrounds
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Redwood Campsite
Track Parkwood 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 Parkwood Lake Dam
Where does the data for Parkwood 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 Parkwood Lake Dam.