Lake Crabtree Dam
Lake Crabtree Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina, built in 1988. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Crabtree Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Crabtree 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 Wake County Attorney's Office (local government). It impounds the Crabtree Creek near Raleigh.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 473 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,950 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 52 square miles. Completed in 1988, the structure is 38 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 02/23/2023.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Crabtree Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.83740, -78.78350 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1988 (38 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,950 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,950 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,040 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 473 acres |
| Drainage Area | 52 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Wake County Attorney's Office |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/23/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC04952 |
| Federal ID | NC04952 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |