Lake Susan Dam
Lake Susan Dam is a concrete dam located in Buncombe County, North Carolina, built in 1925. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Susan Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Susan Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mountain Retreat Association, Inc. (private). It impounds the Flat Creek near Black Mountain.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 410 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 20 acre-feet. Completed in 1925, the structure is over a century 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 02/04/2025.
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 | Black Mountain |
| River/Stream | Flat Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.64690, -82.29880 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 410 ft |
| Year Completed | 1925 (101 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Mountain Retreat Association, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/04/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01923 |
| Federal ID | NC01923 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |