Lake Vista Dam dam
Lake Vista Dam
Located in Durham, North Carolina, Lake Vista Dam, also known as Willowhaven Lake Dam #1, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1958 for recreational purposes along the Eno River-Tr. With a height of 20 feet and a hydraulic height of 18 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 69 acre-feet, serving as a popular spot for outdoor activities in the area. The dam spans 375 feet in length and covers a surface area of 5 acres, while being regulated by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment and regular inspections, Lake Vista Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure public safety. With a drainage area of 480 square miles and a maximum discharge of 20 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and protecting downstream communities from potential flooding events. As a key feature in the local landscape, Lake Vista Dam serves as both a recreational destination and a critical infrastructure asset in North Carolina'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 Lake Vista Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Eno River Near Durham | 16 cfs | → |
| Little River At Sr1461 Near Orange Factory | 2 cfs | → |
| Mountain Creek At Sr1617 Nr Bahama | 0 cfs | → |
| Little R Bl Little R Trib At Fairntosh | 49 cfs | → |
| Ellerbe Creek Near Gorman | 22 cfs | → |
| Flat River Trib Nr Willardville | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Vista Dam.
Boat launches
- Rodolphe Street 6122, Durham
- Dimmocks Mill Road 920, Town Of Hillsborough
- Hickory Hill Boat Ramp
- Ledge Rock Boat Ramp, Creedmoor
- Baptist Route 4398, Durham County
- Durham County
Campgrounds
- Redwood Campsite
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Holly Point - Falls Lake
- Two Oaks Campground
- Shortleaf Pine Campground
- Overlook Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lake Vista 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 Vista Dam
Where does the data for Lake Vista 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 Vista Dam.