Ravenel Lake Dam
Ravenel Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in Macon County, North Carolina, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Ravenel Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Ravenel Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ravenel Lake Association, Inc (private). It impounds the Cullasaja River near Highlands.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 31,510 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 185 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 03/27/2025.
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 | Macon |
| Nearest City | Highlands |
| River/Stream | Cullasaja River |
| Coordinates | 35.08180, -83.16510 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 31,510 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 185 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 185 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Ravenel Lake Association, Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00142 |
| Federal ID | NC00142 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |