Cascade Lake Dam
Cascade Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in Transylvania County, North Carolina, built in 1919. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Cascade Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Cascade Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Cascade Power Company (public utility). It impounds the Little River near Little River.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 240 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 64 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,304 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 40 square miles. Completed in 1919, the structure is over a century 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/05/2024.
At 58 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Little River |
| River/Stream | Little River |
| Coordinates | 35.21890, -82.63950 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 240 ft |
| Year Completed | 1919 (107 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,304 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,304 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 64 acres |
| Drainage Area | 40 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 50,778 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Cascade Power Company |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00340 |
| Federal ID | NC00340 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |