Lake Wheeler Dam
Lake Wheeler Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Wheeler Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Wheeler Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Raleigh Public Utilities Department (local government). It impounds the Swift Creek near Smithfield.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 560 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 37 square miles. Completed in 1956, 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 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 11/05/2024.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Smithfield |
| River/Stream | Swift Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.69270, -78.69430 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 560 acres |
| Drainage Area | 37 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00864 |
| Federal ID | NC00864 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |