Lake Houser Dam
Lake Houser Dam is an earth dam located in Cleveland County, North Carolina, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Houser Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Houser Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Houser, Inc. (private). It impounds the Broad River near Cherokee Falls, Sc.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 340 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 660 acre-feet. Completed in 1970, 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 01/28/2025.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Cleveland |
| Nearest City | Cherokee Falls, Sc |
| River/Stream | Broad River |
| Coordinates | 35.22210, -81.72930 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 340 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 660 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 660 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lake Houser, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00106 |
| Federal ID | NC00106 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |