Winston Lake Dam
Winston Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in Forsyth County, North Carolina, built in 1919. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Winston Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Winston Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Winston-salem (local government). It impounds the Frazier Creek near Winston-salem.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 60 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,368 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1919, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/25/2024.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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 | Forsyth |
| Nearest City | Winston-salem |
| River/Stream | Frazier Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.11563, -80.20322 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 60 ft |
| Year Completed | 1919 (107 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,368 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,368 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,104 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 83 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Winston-Salem |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/25/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00304 |
| Federal ID | NC00304 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |