Cardinal Lake Dam
Cardinal Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Transylvania County, North Carolina, built in 1979. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Cardinal Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Cardinal Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Toxaway Community Association, Inc. (private). It impounds the Toxaway River near Lake Toxaway.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 225 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 680 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 03/30/2025.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Transylvania |
| Nearest City | Lake Toxaway |
| River/Stream | Toxaway River |
| Coordinates | 35.14640, -82.95730 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 225 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 680 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 680 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 364 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lake Toxaway Community Association, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01693 |
| Federal ID | NC01693 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |