Bass Lake Dam
Bass Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina, built in 1900. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bass Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bass Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Holly Springs Parks & Recreation (local government). It impounds the Basal Creek near Fuquay-varina.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 675 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 58 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 910 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1900, 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 11/05/2024.
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 | Fuquay-varina |
| River/Stream | Basal Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.64230, -78.80330 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 675 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 910 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 910 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 760 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 58 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 654 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Holly Springs Parks & Recreation |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00934 |
| Federal ID | NC00934 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |