Thagards Lake Dam
Thagards Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in Moore County, North Carolina, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Thagards Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Thagards Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Village Of Whispering Pines (local government). It impounds the Little River.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 610 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 211 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,505 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 65 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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 03/26/2024.
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 |
| River/Stream | Little River |
| Coordinates | 35.26470, -79.36100 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 610 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,505 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,505 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,335 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 211 acres |
| Drainage Area | 65 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,151 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Village of Whispering Pines |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/26/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00073 |
| Federal ID | NC00073 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |