John Bunch Lake Dam
John Bunch Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Randolph County, North Carolina, built in 1942. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About John Bunch Lake Dam
The primary purpose of John Bunch 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 City Of Asheboro (local government). It impounds the Cedar Fork Creek near Farmer.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 471 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1942, 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 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 01/03/2024.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Randolph |
| Nearest City | Farmer |
| River/Stream | Cedar Fork Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.72230, -79.86010 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1942 (84 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 471 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 471 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 396 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,146 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Asheboro |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/03/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00451 |
| Federal ID | NC00451 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |