Fairfield Lake Dam

About Fairfield Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Fairfield Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fairfield Sapphire Valley Master Association, Inc. (private). It impounds the Trays Island Creek near Sapphire.

The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 396 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 183 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,015 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1890, 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 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 01/27/2025.

At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% 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.

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