Cook Lake Dam dam
Cook Lake Dam
Cook Lake Dam, formerly known as Fraziers Lake Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Durham, North Carolina. Completed in 1960, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 14 feet and a structural height of 15 feet, with a length of 600 feet. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, providing a surface area of 6 acres and a drainage area of 492 acres along Third Fork Creek.
With a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, Cook Lake Dam presents a significant hazard potential but has been assessed as satisfactory in condition as of March 2019. The dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations. While the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks certain emergency preparedness measures, it remains a key feature for recreational activities in the Farrington area, despite its potential risks. Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find Cook Lake Dam's history and current status intriguing, as it represents a balance between enjoyment and safety in managing water resources.
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 Cook Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| New Hope Creek Near Blands | 11 cfs | → |
| Northeast Creek At Sr1100 Nr Genlee | 8 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near Chapel Hill | 6 cfs | → |
| Eno River Near Durham | 13 cfs | → |
| Ellerbe Creek Near Gorman | 12 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near White Cross | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cook Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Hickory Hill Boat Ramp
- Ferrington Boat Ramp, Chapel Hill
- Rodolphe Street 6122, Durham
- Baptist Route 4398, Durham County
- Durham County
Campgrounds
- Redwood Campsite
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Holly Point - Falls Lake
Track Cook 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 Cook Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cook 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 Significant 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 Cook Lake Dam.