Crystal Lake Dam dam
Crystal Lake Dam
Crystal Lake Dam, located in Durham, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1947, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 18 feet and a structural height of 20 feet, stretching 360 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet, it serves as a beloved spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, Crystal Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential, requiring biennial inspections to ensure public safety. The dam overlooks the Ena River-Tr, offering a surface area of 9 acres for recreational activities. Owned by a private entity, the dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources Dam Safety Program, emphasizing the importance of state oversight in managing water resources.
With a drainage area of 550 acres and a maximum discharge of 135 cubic feet per second, Crystal Lake Dam plays a vital role in the local ecosystem. Its risk management measures and emergency action plans ensure preparedness for any potential incidents, aligning with modern safety standards. Water and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the beauty and functionality of this dam while recognizing the importance of maintaining infrastructure for sustainable water resource management.
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 Crystal Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Eno River Near Durham | 14 cfs | → |
| Ellerbe Creek Near Gorman | 12 cfs | → |
| Little R Bl Little R Trib At Fairntosh | 49 cfs | → |
| Little River At Sr1461 Near Orange Factory | 2 cfs | → |
| Mountain Creek At Sr1617 Nr Bahama | 0 cfs | → |
| Flat River Trib Nr Willardville | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crystal Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Rodolphe Street 6122, Durham
- Hickory Hill Boat Ramp
- Dimmocks Mill Road 920, Town Of Hillsborough
- Baptist Route 4398, Durham County
- Ledge Rock Boat Ramp, Creedmoor
- Durham County
Campgrounds
- Redwood Campsite
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Holly Point - Falls Lake
- Two Oaks Campground
- Shortleaf Pine Campground
- Blue Heron Campground
Fishing spots
Track Crystal 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 Crystal Lake Dam
Where does the data for Crystal 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 Crystal Lake Dam.