Thurlow Lake Dam
Thurlow Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Moore County, North Carolina, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Thurlow Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Thurlow 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 Robin R Lea (private). It impounds the Crane Creek near Vass.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 420 acre-feet. Completed in 1956, 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 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 04/25/2024.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Moore |
| Nearest City | Vass |
| River/Stream | Crane Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.27770, -79.28470 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 420 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 420 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 396 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Max Discharge | 167 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Robin R Lea |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/25/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00084 |
| Federal ID | NC00084 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |