Laurel Lake Dam
Laurel Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Rutherford County, North Carolina, built in 2002. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Laurel Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Laurel Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Laurel Lakes Property Owners (private). It impounds the Bills Creek near Lake Lure.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 333 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 145 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 2002, the structure is relatively new.
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 01/29/2025.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Rutherford |
| Nearest City | Lake Lure |
| River/Stream | Bills Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.45580, -82.14640 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 333 ft |
| Year Completed | 2002 (24 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 145 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 145 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Laurel Lakes Property Owners |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/29/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05574 |
| Federal ID | NC05574 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |