Burnside Drive Dam
Burnside Drive Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Burnside Drive Dam
The primary purpose of Burnside Drive 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 Elizabeth Scherrer (private). It impounds the Middle Creek near Apex.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 270 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 12 acre-feet.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/07/2024.
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 | Wake |
| Nearest City | Apex |
| River/Stream | Middle Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.65200, -78.73630 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 270 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Elizabeth Scherrer |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/07/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05802 |
| Federal ID | NC05802 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |