Forest Oaks Lake Dam
Forest Oaks Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Guilford County, North Carolina, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Forest Oaks Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Forest Oaks Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Guilford Development Group, Llc (private). It impounds the Beaver Creek near Alamance.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 625 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 222 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 08/14/2024.
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 | Guilford |
| Nearest City | Alamance |
| River/Stream | Beaver Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.99670, -79.71420 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 625 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 222 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 222 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 144 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,176 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Guilford Development Group, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/14/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00676 |
| Federal ID | NC00676 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |