Lake Vista Dam
Lake Vista Dam is an earth dam located in Durham County, North Carolina, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Vista Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Vista Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Swamp Fox, Llc (private). It impounds the Ut To Eno River near Durham.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 375 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 69 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1958, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/05/2021.
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 | Durham |
| Nearest City | Durham |
| River/Stream | Ut To Eno River |
| Coordinates | 36.08160, -78.95700 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 375 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 69 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 69 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 58 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 20 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Swamp Fox, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/05/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01051 |
| Federal ID | NC01051 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |