Little River Dam
Little River Dam is an earth dam located in Durham County, North Carolina, built in 1984. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Little River Dam
The primary purpose of Little River 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 City Of Durham Department Of Water Management (local government). It impounds the Little River near Falls.
The dam stands 95 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 550 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 97 square miles. Completed in 1984, the structure is 42 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 03/05/2021.
At 95 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Durham |
| Nearest City | Falls |
| River/Stream | Little River |
| Coordinates | 36.11350, -78.86850 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1984 (42 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 550 acres |
| Drainage Area | 97 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 86,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Durham Department of Water Management |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/05/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05143 |
| Federal ID | NC05143 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |