Bel-air Lake Dam
Bel-air Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Catawba County, North Carolina, built in 1961. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bel-air Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bel-air Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sherrill Furniture Company (private). It impounds the South Fork Creek near Lincolnton.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 498 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 178 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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 01/08/2025.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Catawba |
| Nearest City | Lincolnton |
| River/Stream | South Fork Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.59760, -81.27200 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 498 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 178 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 178 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 148 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Sherrill Furniture Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/08/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00408 |
| Federal ID | NC00408 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |