Watkins Pond Dam dam
Watkins Pond Dam
Watkins Pond Dam is a privately owned structure located in Coats, North Carolina, serving as a recreational asset for the community. The dam, standing at a hydraulic height of 13 feet and a structural height of 15 feet, contributes to the storage of water with a capacity of 12 acre-feet. Situated on the Black River-Os, the dam has a length of 410 feet and covers a surface area of 2 acres.
Although the dam is primarily used for recreational purposes, it is also under state regulation, with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality overseeing its permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The last inspection in August 2020 rated the dam's condition as fair, highlighting a high hazard potential. Despite this, the dam has not undergone any major modifications in recent years and does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, raising concerns about its ability to manage risks effectively in case of emergencies.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate change may find Watkins Pond Dam an intriguing case study due to its combination of recreational value and regulatory oversight. The dam's fair condition and high hazard potential underscore the importance of proactive risk management measures and the development of an EAP to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the preservation of the dam's ecological and recreational benefits.
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 Watkins Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Creek Near Clayton | 7 cfs | → |
| Cape Fear River At Lillington | 542 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Mccullars Crossroads | 13 cfs | → |
| Swift Creek Near Apex | 1 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Nr Corinth | 8 cfs | → |
| Neuse River Near Clayton | 242 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Watkins Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Wheeler Boat Ramp
- Bartley Holleman Road 3519-3621, New Hill
- Buffalo Creek Greenway Smithfield
- Crosspoint Road 388, New Hill
- Walnut Creek Trail Raleigh
- Neuse River Trail Wake County
Campgrounds
- Rvacation Campground
- William B. Umstead State Park
- Crosswinds State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- Poplar Point State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
- San Lee County Park
- Parkers Creek State Rec Area - Jordan Lake
Fishing spots
Track Watkins Pond 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 Watkins Pond Dam
Where does the data for Watkins Pond 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 Watkins Pond Dam.