Spring Valley Lake Dam
Spring Valley Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Moore County, North Carolina, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Spring Valley Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Spring Valley Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Village Of Whispering Pines (local government). It impounds the Ut To Little River.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 1,550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 85 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,880 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 06/20/2024.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Moore |
| River/Stream | Ut To Little River |
| Coordinates | 35.25940, -79.38350 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,880 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,880 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,448 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 13 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Village of Whispering Pines |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/20/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00076 |
| Federal ID | NC00076 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |