Simpson Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Transylvania County, North Carolina, built in 1963. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 580 ft long, taller than 55% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Simpson Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Simpson Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Alan W Winchester (private). It impounds the Lamb Creek near White Oaks.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 580 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 27 acre-feet. Completed in 1963, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 03/31/2014. That was over 12 years ago.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Transylvania |
| Nearest City | White Oaks |
| River/Stream | Lamb Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.26680, -82.73820 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 580 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 27 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 27 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 23 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Alan W Winchester |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/31/2014 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00212 |
| Federal ID | NC00212 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |