Durham Lake Dam dam
Durham Lake Dam
Durham Lake Dam, located in Forsyth, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreation purposes. The dam, with a hydraulic height of 30 feet and a structural height of 35 feet, impounds Mill Creek-Tr, creating a surface area of 6.9 acres and a storage capacity of 95 acre-feet. The dam has a low hazard potential and was last inspected in October 2014, with a fair condition assessment reported.
Managed by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Durham Lake Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities. It is located in West Bend, five miles from Wilmington District, and falls under the jurisdiction of North Carolina. Despite the absence of federal agency involvement, the dam plays a significant role in providing recreational opportunities for the local community while ensuring safety and compliance with state regulations.
With its earth dam type and a history of moderate modifications, Durham Lake Dam continues to be a vital asset for water resource management and climate resilience in the region. Its association with the Mill Creek-Tr and its strategic location highlight the importance of maintaining the dam's integrity to safeguard against potential risks and ensure sustainable water management practices for the future.
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 Durham Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yadkin River At Enon | 670 cfs | → |
| Little Yadkin River At Dalton | 7 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Yadkin College | 876 cfs | → |
| Hunting Creek Near Harmony | 50 cfs | → |
| Ararat River At Ararat | 110 cfs | → |
| Fisher River Near Copeland | 177 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Durham Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Campground Trail Yadkin County
- Nc Highway 801 South 5877, Mocksville
- Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
- Belews Lake Drive 8191, Belews Creek
- Pine Hall Road 2547-2793, Walnut Cove
- Trading Ford Way Davidson County
Campgrounds
- Tanglewood Park
- Pilot Mountain State Park
- Ymca Camp Hanes
- Hanging Rock State Park
- Sunset Park Campground
- Oak Hollow City Campground
Fishing spots
Track Durham 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 Durham Lake Dam
Where does the data for Durham 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 Low 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 Durham Lake Dam.