Lake Ellen Dam dam
Lake Ellen Dam
Lake Ellen Dam, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is a vital water resource for the region, providing recreational opportunities along Booker Creek. The dam, standing at a hydraulic height of 30 feet and a length of 375 feet, has a storage capacity of 81 acre-feet and serves as a key element in managing the area's water supply. The dam is state-regulated by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations.
Despite its high hazard potential, Lake Ellen Dam has been assessed as satisfactory in condition, with the last inspection conducted in May 2020. The dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) was last revised in August 2019, although details on its compliance with guidelines are not provided. The dam's risk assessment, management measures, and inundation maps status remain unspecified, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of surrounding communities in the event of an emergency. With its critical role in water management and recreation, Lake Ellen Dam serves as a significant feature in the local landscape, warranting continued attention and oversight to safeguard its integrity and functionality.
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 Ellen Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan Creek Near White Cross | 0 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near Chapel Hill | 9 cfs | → |
| New Hope Creek Near Blands | 10 cfs | → |
| Eno River At Hillsborough | 6 cfs | → |
| Cane Creek Near Orange Grove | 0 cfs | → |
| Northeast Creek At Sr1100 Nr Genlee | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Ellen Dam.
Boat launches
- Dimmocks Mill Road 920, Town Of Hillsborough
- Ferrington Boat Ramp, Chapel Hill
- Lakeview Drive Alamance County
- Rodolphe Street 6122, Durham
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Hanks Chapel Road 2765, Town Of Pittsboro
Campgrounds
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Redwood Campsite
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- William B. Umstead State Park
Fishing spots
Track Lake Ellen 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 Ellen Dam
Where does the data for Lake Ellen 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 Lake Ellen Dam.