Falls Lake is located in the upper portion of the Neuse River Basin, extending for 28 miles from Falls Dam just north of Raleigh to the confluence of the Eno, Flat, and Little Rivers near Durham. Prior to 1978, flooding of the Neuse River caused extensive damage to public and private properties within the Neuse River Basin. But the US Army Corps of Engineers forged ahead with a plan to control the flood waters, completing the dam in 1981. Today the man-made reservoir is comprised of a 12,000 acre lake surrounded by 26,000 acres of woodlands. In addition to providing the water supply for Raleigh and several surrounding towns, the lake also provides ample recreation and wildlife enhancement for the Neuse River Basin.
Falls Dam is constructed of earth and rockfill, and has a side channel uncontrolled spillway. It utilizes a multilevel intake structure and oblong-shaped conduit to discharge water. It has a top elevation of 291.5 feet (msl) and an overall length of 1,915 feet, and its height above the streambed is 92.5 feet. At its normal level, the lake holds about 43 billion gallons. If storm conditions prevail, the lake will discharge water through the spillway when the lake reaches about 115 billion gallons.
But most people are interested mainly in the recreational aspect of the lake. You can learn about this and more by visiting... www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/fala/main.php.
Anthony Williams