Lake Evens Dam
Lake Evens Dam is an earth dam located in Buncombe County, North Carolina, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Evens Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Evens Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Presbytery Of Western North Carolina (private). It impounds the Upper Flat Creek near Bat Cave.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 191 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 04/18/2023.
At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% 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 | Buncombe |
| Nearest City | Bat Cave |
| River/Stream | Upper Flat Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.53670, -82.32990 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 191 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,250 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Presbytery of Western North Carolina |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/18/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01248 |
| Federal ID | NC01248 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |