Cook Lake Dam
Cook Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Durham County, North Carolina, built in 1960. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Cook Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Cook Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Samuel Noel (private). It impounds the Third Fork Creek near Farrington.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1960, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 03/01/2022.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Durham |
| Nearest City | Farrington |
| River/Stream | Third Fork Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.94510, -78.92020 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 45 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 99 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Samuel Noel |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/01/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01042 |
| Federal ID | NC01042 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |