Murray Hilton Lake Dam
Murray Hilton Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Rutherford County, North Carolina, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Murray Hilton Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Murray Hilton Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Northgate Golden Valley, Llc (private). It impounds the South Creek near South Creek.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 534 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 274 acre-feet. Completed in 1963, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/07/2025.
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.
Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Rutherford |
| Nearest City | South Creek |
| River/Stream | South Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.50440, -81.79660 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 534 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 274 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 274 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 228 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Northgate Golden Valley, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/07/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00096 |
| Federal ID | NC00096 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |