Lake Raleigh Dam
Lake Raleigh 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 Raleigh Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Raleigh 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 State Of North Carolina, State Property Office (state). It impounds the Walnut Creek near Raleigh.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 762 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 88 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,921 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 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.
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 | 35.76570, -78.67660 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 762 ft |
| Year Completed | 1914 (112 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,921 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,921 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 560 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 88 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 13,990 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | State of North Carolina, State Property Office |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/07/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00863 |
| Federal ID | NC00863 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |