Lake Ellen Dam
Lake Ellen Dam is an earth dam located in Orange County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Ellen Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Ellen Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Ellen Homeowners Association (private). It impounds the Booker Creek.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 375 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 81 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles.
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 10/17/2024.
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 | Orange |
| River/Stream | Booker Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.94590, -79.05280 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 375 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 81 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 81 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,653 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lake Ellen Homeowners Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/17/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01537 |
| Federal ID | NC01537 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |