Dunnaway Lake Dam
Dunnaway Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Dunnaway Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Dunnaway 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 Long Lake Homeowner's Association, Inc. (private). It impounds the Turkey Creek near Raleigh.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 406 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 290 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/24/2025.
At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% 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 | Wake |
| Nearest City | Raleigh |
| River/Stream | Turkey Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.87930, -78.73290 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 406 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 290 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 290 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 240 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 248 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Long Lake Homeowner's Association, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/24/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00858 |
| Federal ID | NC00858 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |