White Oak Lake Dam
White Oak Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About White Oak Lake Dam
The primary purpose of White Oak 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 White Oak Lake, Inc. (private). It impounds the Simmons Branch near Raleigh.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 20 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/14/2021.
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 | Wake |
| Nearest City | Raleigh |
| River/Stream | Simmons Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.77540, -78.71390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | White Oak Lake, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 12/14/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC04516 |
| Federal ID | NC04516 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |