Nicholas Lake Dam
Nicholas Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Rowan County, North Carolina, built in 1969. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Nicholas Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Nicholas Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Rowan County (local government). It impounds the Persimmon Creek near High Rock.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 595 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 110 acre-feet. Completed in 1969, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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. The most recent inspection on record was 01/26/2023.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Rowan |
| Nearest City | High Rock |
| River/Stream | Persimmon Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.63750, -80.35040 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 595 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 92 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Max Discharge | 66 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Rowan County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/26/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00385 |
| Federal ID | NC00385 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |