Lake Orange Dam dam
Lake Orange Dam
Lake Orange Dam, located in Hillsborough, North Carolina, serves as a crucial water supply source for the region. Completed in 1969, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 40 feet and has a hydraulic height of 25 feet, with a storage capacity of 1640 acre-feet. Situated on the East Fork Eno River, the dam plays a vital role in providing water to the surrounding communities, boasting a normal storage capacity of 1364 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 140 acres.
Managed by the local government, the dam is regulated and inspected by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Dam Safety Program, ensuring its safety and functionality. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2018 deemed it satisfactory, with regular inspections scheduled every two years. While no spillway type or width is specified, the dam's maximum discharge capacity is recorded at 66 cubic feet per second, highlighting its importance in managing water flow and preventing flooding in the area.
Lake Orange Dam stands as a testament to sustainable water resource management, showcasing the collaborative efforts between local government agencies and environmental regulators to safeguard this critical infrastructure. With its significant role in water supply and conservation, the dam serves as a vital asset in ensuring the region's resilience against climate impacts and contributing to the overall well-being of the community.
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 Orange Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Eno River At Hillsborough | 6 cfs | → |
| Cane Creek Near Orange Grove | 0 cfs | → |
| Haw River At Haw River | 74 cfs | → |
| Little River At Sr1461 Near Orange Factory | 2 cfs | → |
| Mountain Creek At Sr1617 Nr Bahama | 0 cfs | → |
| Eno River Near Durham | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Orange Dam.
Boat launches
- Dimmocks Mill Road 920, Town Of Hillsborough
- Haw River Trail Haw River
- Graham Paddle Access Graham
- Haw River Trail Alamance County
- Island Trail Alamance County
Campgrounds
- Shallow Ford Campsites
- Redwood Campsite
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Holly Point - Falls Lake
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
Fishing spots
Track Lake Orange 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 Orange Dam
Where does the data for Lake Orange 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 Orange Dam.