Lake Kannapolis Dam
Lake Kannapolis Dam is an earth dam located in Rowan County, North Carolina, built in 1940. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Kannapolis Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Kannapolis 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 Kannapolis (local government). It impounds the Irish Buffalo Creek near Kannapolis.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 830 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 267 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,931 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1940, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 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 08/09/2024.
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 | Rowan |
| Nearest City | Kannapolis |
| River/Stream | Irish Buffalo Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.51200, -80.64650 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 830 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,931 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,931 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,420 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 267 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,530 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Kannapolis |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/09/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00324 |
| Federal ID | NC00324 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |