Cole Lake Dam dam
Cole Lake Dam
Cole Lake Dam, located in Durham, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1949, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 19 feet with a hydraulic height of 18 feet, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 81 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Eno River, making it a valuable water resource for the surrounding community.
Despite its relatively small size, Cole Lake Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, indicating the potential risk to downstream areas in the event of a dam failure. However, the dam's condition assessment was reported as fair during its last inspection in February 2020. With a frequency of inspections every two years, the dam is closely monitored to ensure its safety and integrity.
The dam's location in Huckleberry Springs offers a picturesque setting for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking. With its modest surface area of 9 acres and a drainage area that is not specified, Cole Lake Dam remains a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to enjoy the natural beauty of North Carolina's landscapes.
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 Cole Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Eno River Near Durham | 14 cfs | → |
| Little River At Sr1461 Near Orange Factory | 2 cfs | → |
| Ellerbe Creek Near Gorman | 12 cfs | → |
| Eno River At Hillsborough | 6 cfs | → |
| Little R Bl Little R Trib At Fairntosh | 49 cfs | → |
| Mountain Creek At Sr1617 Nr Bahama | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cole Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Rodolphe Street 6122, Durham
- Dimmocks Mill Road 920, Town Of Hillsborough
- Hickory Hill Boat Ramp
- 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
- Blue Heron Campground
- Shortleaf Pine Campground
Fishing spots
Track Cole 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 Cole Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cole 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 Cole Lake Dam.