Lake Michie Dam dam
Lake Michie Dam
Lake Michie Dam, located in Redwood, Durham, North Carolina, is a vital water resource structure serving multiple purposes. Built in 1926, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 92 feet, with a hydraulic height of 81 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 12,400 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 18,660 acre-feet. Covering a surface area of 460 acres and draining an area of 106,880 acres, the dam on Flat River ensures water supply and recreation opportunities for the surrounding community.
Managed by a public utility, Lake Michie Dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment, the dam undergoes regular inspections every two years, with the last assessment conducted in October 2020. Although no spillway information is provided, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures remain unspecified, indicating potential areas for further improvement and preparedness in the face of climate variability and water resource challenges.
As a key infrastructure element in the region, Lake Michie Dam plays a crucial role in water supply and recreational activities. With its historical significance dating back nearly a century, the dam continues to serve the community while facing potential risks that necessitate ongoing monitoring and management to ensure its resilience in the changing climate conditions. Enthusiasts and stakeholders interested in water resources and climate adaptation can appreciate the significance of Lake Michie Dam as a critical asset in the Durham area's water management and resilience efforts.
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 Michie Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flat River At Dam Near Bahama | 2 cfs | → |
| Flat River Trib Nr Willardville | 0 cfs | → |
| Knap Of Reeds Creek Near Butner | 7 cfs | → |
| Little R Bl Little R Trib At Fairntosh | 49 cfs | → |
| Flat River At Bahama | 24 cfs | → |
| Mountain Creek At Sr1617 Nr Bahama | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Michie Dam.
Boat launches
- Rodolphe Street 6122, Durham
- Hickory Hill Boat Ramp
- Ledge Rock Boat Ramp, Creedmoor
- Baptist Route 4398, Durham County
- Duck Cove Trail Wake County
- Creedmoor Road 13900, Town Of Wake Forest
Campgrounds
- Redwood Campsite
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Holly Point - Falls Lake
- Two Oaks Campground
- Overlook Campground
- Shortleaf Pine Campground
Track Lake Michie 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 Michie Dam
Where does the data for Lake Michie 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 Michie Dam.