Shelley Lake Dam
Shelley Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Shelley Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Shelley Lake Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Wake County Facility And Field Services (local government). It impounds the Lead Mine Creek near Raleigh.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 1,155 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 53 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,269 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1975, 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 10/31/2024.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Wake |
| Nearest City | Raleigh |
| River/Stream | Lead Mine Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.85670, -78.66160 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,155 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,269 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,269 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 445 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 53 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 29,167 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Wake County Facility and Field Services |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01452 |
| Federal ID | NC01452 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |