Lake Trace Dam
Lake Trace Dam is an earth dam located in Lee County, North Carolina, built in 1971. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Trace Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Trace Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Escalante Carolina Trace, Llc (private). It impounds the Little River.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 970 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 330 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,645 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 54 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 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 02/09/2023.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Lee |
| River/Stream | Little River |
| Coordinates | 35.41730, -79.09010 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 970 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,645 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,645 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 330 acres |
| Drainage Area | 54 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 42,185 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Escalante Carolina Trace, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00017 |
| Federal ID | NC00017 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |