Lake Tahoma Dam
Lake Tahoma Dam is a concrete dam located in McDowell County, North Carolina, built in 1928. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Tahoma Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Tahoma Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Buck Creek Corporation (private). It impounds the Buck Creek near Pleasant Gardens.
The dam stands 73 feet tall and stretches 308 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 163 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 23 square miles. Completed in 1928, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 06/03/2024.
At 73 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 | McDowell |
| Nearest City | Pleasant Gardens |
| River/Stream | Buck Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.72330, -82.07980 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 73 ft |
| Dam Length | 308 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,790 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 163 acres |
| Drainage Area | 23 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Buck Creek Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/03/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00316 |
| Federal ID | NC00316 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |