Alpine Lake Dam
Alpine Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Rowan County, North Carolina, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Alpine Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Alpine Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Steven C Bryan (private). It impounds the Alpine Branch near Salisbury.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 40 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/05/2025.
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 | Rowan |
| Nearest City | Salisbury |
| River/Stream | Alpine Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.59580, -80.48780 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 106 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Steven C Bryan |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/05/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00184 |
| Federal ID | NC00184 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |