Cane Creek Lake Dam
Cane Creek Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Union County, North Carolina, built in 1974. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Cane Creek Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Cane Creek Lake Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Union County Parks And Recreation (local government). It impounds the Cane Creek near Lancaster, Sc.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 1,057 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 308 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,030 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 square miles. Completed in 1974, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/09/2025.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Union |
| Nearest City | Lancaster, Sc |
| River/Stream | Cane Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.83500, -80.69210 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,057 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,030 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,030 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,020 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 308 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,320 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Union County Parks and Recreation |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00516 |
| Federal ID | NC00516 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |