Hart Lake Dam Upper is an earth dam located in Catawba County, North Carolina, built in 1967. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 400 ft long, taller than 80% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Hart Lake Dam Upper
Hart Lake Dam Upper is a dam in Catawba, North Carolina. The dam is owned by Hart Square Foundation, Inc. (private). It impounds the Sampson Creek near Lincolnton.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 64 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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 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 01/08/2025.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Catawba |
| Nearest City | Lincolnton |
| River/Stream | Sampson Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.58080, -81.35820 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 64 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 64 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 462 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Hart Square Foundation, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/08/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00366 |
| Federal ID | NC00366 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |