Osceola Lake Dam
Osceola Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Henderson County, North Carolina, built in 1920. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Osceola Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Osceola Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by T & A Carolina Corporation (private). It impounds the Shepherd Creek near Hendersonville.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 340 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1920, the structure is over a century 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 01/24/2024.
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 | Henderson |
| Nearest City | Hendersonville |
| River/Stream | Shepherd Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.29780, -82.47330 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 340 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,300 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | T & A Carolina Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00239 |
| Federal ID | NC00239 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |