Lake Don T. Howell Dam dam
Lake Don T. Howell Dam
Lake Don T. Howell Dam, also known as Coddle Creek Dam, is a vital water supply structure located in Cabarrus, North Carolina. Built in 1993, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 55 feet and has a hydraulic height of 44 feet. With a capacity to store 36,400 acre-feet of water, the dam serves the primary purpose of providing water for the surrounding area.
Managed by the local government, this dam on Coddle Creek is closely regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition was assessed as fair during the last inspection in January 2020. With a surface area of 1300 acres and a drainage area of 30,080 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and ensuring water supply reliability for the city of Concord.
Lake Don T. Howell Dam's strategic location and significant storage capacity make it a key infrastructure for water resource management in North Carolina. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the importance of well-maintained dams like this one cannot be overstated. With ongoing inspections and enforcement measures in place, the dam remains a critical asset for safeguarding water security in the region for years to come.
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 Don T. Howell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clarke Creek Near Harrisburg | 2 cfs | → |
| Coddle Cr At Sr 1612 Near Davidson | 3 cfs | → |
| W. Br Rocky R B Mth Of S Prong R Nr Cornelius | 3 cfs | → |
| Mallard Cr Bl Stony Cr Nr Harrisburg | 5 cfs | → |
| Rocky R Ab Irish Buffalo Cr Nr Rocky River | 40 cfs | → |
| Gar Creek At Sr2074 Nr Croft | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Don T. Howell Dam.
Boat launches
- Neck Road 5744, Huntersville
- Nc 73 Mecklenburg County
- Shipley Lane Lincoln County
- Seipel Drive 8335, Denver
- Riverbend Boat Ramp
- Burton Lane 4906, Denver
Track Lake Don T. Howell 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 Don T. Howell Dam
Where does the data for Lake Don T. Howell 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 Don T. Howell Dam.