Blanchard Lake Dam #1

About Blanchard Lake Dam #1

The primary purpose of Blanchard Lake Dam #1 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Farm At Five Ponds Homeowners Association, Inc. (private). It impounds the Barbeque Swamp near Harnett.

The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 422 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1943, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/14/2024.

At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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.