Atagahi Lake Dam
Atagahi Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Transylvania County, North Carolina, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Atagahi Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Atagahi Lake Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Connestee Falls Poa, Inc. (private). It impounds the Carson Creek near Connestee Falls.
The dam stands 88 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 65 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 2,780 acre-feet. Completed in 1973, 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 04/25/2025.
At 88 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Transylvania |
| Nearest City | Connestee Falls |
| River/Stream | Carson Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.15488, -82.71870 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 88 ft |
| Dam Length | 480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,780 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,780 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Connestee Falls POA, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/25/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00197 |
| Federal ID | NC00197 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |