Lake Carolina Dam
Lake Carolina Dam is an earth dam located in Harnett County, North Carolina, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Carolina Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Carolina Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Carolina Lakes Property Owners Association (private). It impounds the Reedy Swamp near Manchester.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 90 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,960 acre-feet. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/17/2024.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The North Carolina dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Harnett |
| Nearest City | Manchester |
| River/Stream | Reedy Swamp |
| Coordinates | 35.28010, -79.03590 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,960 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,960 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,882 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 90 acres |
| Max Discharge | 166 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Carolina Lakes Property Owners Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/17/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00012 |
| Federal ID | NC00012 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |