Willis Lake Dam
Willis Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Alleghany County, North Carolina, built in 1962. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Willis Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Willis Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Benjamin S Willis (private). It impounds the Waterfall Creek near Whitehead.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 219 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 56 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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 03/04/2025.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Alleghany |
| Nearest City | Whitehead |
| River/Stream | Waterfall Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.42730, -81.14480 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 219 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 56 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 56 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 47 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 165 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Benjamin S Willis |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/04/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00243 |
| Federal ID | NC00243 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |