Lake Coffey Dam dam
Lake Coffey Dam
Lake Coffey Dam, located in Kellerville, North Carolina, serves as a vital water supply source in the region. Built in 1968, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 33 feet and has a hydraulic height of 29 feet. With a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.3 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. It is situated on Pond Creek and is under the jurisdiction of the Watauga County local government.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Lake Coffey Dam is regularly inspected to ensure its safety and structural integrity. The dam has not been rated for its condition, but inspections are conducted periodically to monitor any changes. The last inspection took place in February 2021, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining the dam's safety standards. While the dam does not have associated structures or a spillway, its primary purpose of water supply underscores its importance in the region's water management infrastructure.
Lake Coffey Dam, with its modest dimensions and capacity, plays a significant role in supplying water to the surrounding community. This local government-owned structure is an essential part of the water supply network in Watauga County. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding and appreciating the role of dams like Lake Coffey Dam in ensuring water availability and management is crucial for sustainable resource utilization in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Coffey Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Watauga River Near Sugar Grove | 38 cfs | → |
| Doe River At Elizabethton | 293 cfs | → |
| Watauga River At Elizabethton | 335 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 12 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 74 cfs | → |
| Elk Creek At Elkville | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Coffey Dam.
Boat launches
- Price Lake Trail Watauga County
- Moody Circle Carter County
- Sink Mountain Launch Road Johnson County
- Roby Green Road Watauga County
- Us 321;Sr 67 Carter County
- Wilbur Dam Road Carter County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
Track Lake Coffey 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 Coffey Dam
Where does the data for Lake Coffey 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 Lake Coffey Dam.