Discovery Lake Dam
Discovery Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Durham County, North Carolina, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Discovery Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Discovery 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 National Institutes Of Health (private). It impounds the Burdens Creek near Haywood.
The dam stands 30 feet tall, and has a maximum storage capacity of 336 acre-feet. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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 02/09/2021.
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 | Durham |
| Nearest City | Haywood |
| River/Stream | Burdens Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.88560, -78.87610 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 336 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 336 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | National Institutes of Health |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/09/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01666 |
| Federal ID | NC01666 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |