Willow Lake Dam
Willow Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Henderson County, North Carolina, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Willow Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Willow Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Willow Lake Homeowners Association (private). It impounds the Big Willow Creek near Bowman Bluff.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 365 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 120 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. 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 02/07/2025.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Henderson |
| Nearest City | Bowman Bluff |
| River/Stream | Big Willow Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.29580, -82.56380 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 365 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 108 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Willow Lake Homeowners Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/07/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00228 |
| Federal ID | NC00228 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |