Boykin Lake Dam
Boykin Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Sampson County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Boykin Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Boykin Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Martin D Adams (private). It impounds the Great Coharie Creek near Clinton.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 37 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 510 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/29/2024.
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 | Sampson |
| Nearest City | Clinton |
| River/Stream | Great Coharie Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.96070, -78.36010 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 510 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 510 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 271 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 37 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Martin D Adams |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/29/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC04128 |
| Federal ID | NC04128 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |