Discovery Lake Dam dam
Discovery Lake Dam
Discovery Lake Dam, also known as Lake Drew Dam or Niehs Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Durham, North Carolina. Built in 1978, this Earth-type dam stands at a structural height of 30 feet and serves primarily for flood risk reduction along the Burdens Creek-Tr river. With a storage capacity of 336 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in mitigating the potential hazard of high flooding in the region.
Managed and regulated by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, Discovery Lake Dam undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains satisfactory as of the latest inspection in February 2021. Emergency action plans are in place, although last reviewed in 2015, to guide response efforts in the event of a breach or failure. With its critical role in flood risk reduction, Discovery Lake Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management in the region.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Discovery Lake Dam to be a significant structure in Durham, North Carolina, contributing to the overall flood risk reduction efforts along the Burdens Creek-Tr river. As a privately owned dam with a high hazard potential, its maintenance, inspection, and emergency preparedness are key components in ensuring the safety of surrounding communities and the environment. With a history dating back to 1978 and ongoing regulatory oversight by the NCDEQ, Discovery Lake Dam stands as a crucial piece of infrastructure in the region's water management system.
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 Discovery 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 | → |
| Crabtree Cr At Ebenezer Church Rd Nr Raleigh | 14 cfs | → |
| White Oak Cr At Mouth Near Green Level | · | → |
| Crabtree Creek At Hwy 70 At Raleigh | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Discovery Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Trail Wake County
- Ferrington Boat Ramp, Chapel Hill
- Durham County
- Baptist Route 4398, Durham County
- Hickory Hill Boat Ramp
- Barton's Creek Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Redwood Campsite
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
Track Discovery 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 Discovery Lake Dam
Where does the data for Discovery 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 Discovery Lake Dam.