Waters Lake Dam
Waters Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Burke County, North Carolina, built in 1968. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Waters Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Waters Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Joshua H Waters (private). It impounds the Brindle Creek near Sunshine.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 93 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 01/08/2025.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Burke |
| Nearest City | Sunshine |
| River/Stream | Brindle Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.61530, -81.80940 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 93 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 93 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 54 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 360 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Joshua H Waters |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/08/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00093 |
| Federal ID | NC00093 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |