Simpson Lake Dam
Simpson Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Moore County, North Carolina, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Simpson Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Simpson Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Frances J Harrell-long (private). It impounds the Ut To Little River near Pope Air Force Base.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 375 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 24 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 128 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 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 11/26/2024.
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 | Moore |
| Nearest City | Pope Air Force Base |
| River/Stream | Ut To Little River |
| Coordinates | 35.19050, -79.14309 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 375 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 128 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 128 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 413 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Frances J Harrell-Long |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/26/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00038 |
| Federal ID | NC00038 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |