Camp Daniel Boone Lake Dam
Camp Daniel Boone Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Haywood County, North Carolina, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Camp Daniel Boone Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Camp Daniel Boone Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Boy Scouts Of America, Daniel Boone Council (private). It impounds the Little E. Fork Pigeon River near Retreat.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 87 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1951, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/01/2023.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Haywood |
| Nearest City | Retreat |
| River/Stream | Little E. Fork Pigeon River |
| Coordinates | 35.39250, -82.89750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 87 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 87 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,940 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Boy Scouts of America, Daniel Boone Council |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/01/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01230 |
| Federal ID | NC01230 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |