Lake Rugby Dam
Lake Rugby Dam is an earth dam located in Henderson County, North Carolina, built in 1954. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Rugby Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Rugby Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Rugby, Inc. (private). It impounds the Marston Creek near Asheville.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 72 acre-feet. Completed in 1954, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/27/2025.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Henderson |
| Nearest City | Asheville |
| River/Stream | Marston Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.35810, -82.53140 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 56 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Max Discharge | 630 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lake Rugby, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00227 |
| Federal ID | NC00227 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |