Lake Johnson Dam
Lake Johnson Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina, built in 1914. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Johnson Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Johnson 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 Raleigh Public Utilities Department (local government). It impounds the Walnut Creek near Raleigh.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 779 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 147 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,090 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1914, the structure is over a century 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/07/2024.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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 | Walnut Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.76240, -78.70520 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 779 ft |
| Year Completed | 1914 (112 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,090 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,090 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,570 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 147 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,070 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/07/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00862 |
| Federal ID | NC00862 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |