Bailey Lake Dam dam
Bailey Lake Dam
Bailey Lake Dam, located in Durham, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreation. Completed in 1963, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 20 feet and spans 345 feet in length. With a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 62 acre-feet, the dam poses a high hazard potential but has been assessed to be in fair condition as of February 2021.
Managed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Bailey Lake Dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with standards. Situated on the Little Lick Creek, this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and flood control within the area. With its scenic location in Falls, North Carolina, the dam offers not only recreational opportunities but also serves as a vital piece of infrastructure within the region.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure resilience, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Bailey Lake Dam become increasingly important. With a focus on risk assessment and management measures, it is essential to ensure the continued safety and functionality of such structures to protect communities and the environment from potential hazards and impacts.
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 Bailey Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ellerbe Creek Near Gorman | 18 cfs | → |
| Eno River Near Durham | 16 cfs | → |
| Little R Bl Little R Trib At Fairntosh | 49 cfs | → |
| Knap Of Reeds Creek Near Butner | 9 cfs | → |
| Flat River Trib Nr Willardville | 0 cfs | → |
| Flat River At Dam Near Bahama | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bailey Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Baptist Route 4398, Durham County
- Durham County
- Hickory Hill Boat Ramp
- Ledge Rock Boat Ramp, Creedmoor
- Creedmoor Road 13900, Town Of Wake Forest
- Duck Cove Trail Wake County
Campgrounds
- Rolling View - Falls Lake
- Redwood Campsite
- Holly Point - Falls Lake
- Two Oaks Campground
- Blue Heron Campground
- Osprey Nest Campground
Track Bailey 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 Bailey Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bailey 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 Bailey Lake Dam.