Coles Branch Reservoir water level — North Carolina
Coles Branch Reservoir in North Carolina was last measured at 311.35 ft (datum NAVD88), as of Aug 31, 2026, 4:00 AM (UTC-04:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−0.8 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- Not reported
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−0.8 ft over the trend window
Recent trend
Readings this station published between Jun 2, 2026 and Aug 31, 2026 — a 89-day window — downsampled for display.
Data: USGS Water Services (waterservices.usgs.gov) and USACE CWMS Data (cwms-data.usace.army.mil), retrieved 2026-08-31. Both public domain (a work of the U.S. Government, 17 U.S.C. §105).
Source: USGS site 0208723490, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →
About this gauge's record
This site's drainage basin covers approximately 2 sq mi of contributing watershed.
The dam behind Coles Branch Reservoir
Coles Branch Reservoir is held back by Crabtree Creek WS Dam #18 (also recorded as Coles Branch Reservoir Dam) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 34 ft high and running 1,782 ft along its crest , built across Coles Creek in Wake County , near Morrisville . It was completed in 1973 , and is owned by Wake County General Services Administration (a local government owner) .
Its recorded primary purpose is flood risk reduction — the pool is drawn down between storms so there is empty space waiting for the next flood, which is why this level can fall in dry weather and climb sharply after rain . It also serves flood risk reduction;recreation.
NID classes it high hazard potential. That describes what a failure would cost downstream — loss of life would be expected — and says nothing about how likely a failure is, or what condition the dam is in. Its most recent condition assessment was satisfactory — no deficiencies recognised for expected loading. That assessment is dated 12/13/2024.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 16 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 661 acre-ft against a normal storage of 41 acre-ft. It is regulated by NCDEQ, DEMLR, Dam Safety Program.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record NC01453 , filed by North Carolina — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, public domain. Water levels above come from USGS Water Services and are a separate source. (How this dam was matched to this gauge →)
How Coles Branch Reservoir compares nearby
5 of 6 nearby lakes with a current trend are also falling right now.
Nearby lakes
The six nearest published lakes by centroid distance (great-circle) — cross-state neighbors included.
| Lake | State | Level | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bond Lake | NC | 341.20 ft | 2 km |
| Hatchers Grove Reservoir | NC | 325.11 ft | 3 km |
| Lake Crabtree | NC | 275.35 ft | 6 km |
| Sorrells Grove Reservoir | NC | 303.16 ft | 7 km |
| Page Lake | NC | 305.55 ft | 8 km |
| Brier Creek Reservoir | NC | 305.62 ft | 8 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Coles Branch Reservoir?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 4:00 AM (UTC-04:00), the pool elevation was 311.35 ft (datum NAVD88), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Coles Branch Reservoir full right now?
- Its managing agency does not publish a %-of-conservation-pool-full figure for this lake, so we show the bare level rather than estimate one.
- Where does this data come from?
- From USGS site 0208723490, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in North Carolina
See every lake tracked in North Carolina, or read the methodology behind these figures.