Newton City Lake Dam
Newton City Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Catawba County, North Carolina, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Newton City Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Newton City 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 Newton (local government). It impounds the Clark Creek near Newton.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 208 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1936, 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 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.
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 | Catawba |
| Nearest City | Newton |
| River/Stream | Clark Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.65580, -81.25050 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 208 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 208 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 147 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Newton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/25/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00367 |
| Federal ID | NC00367 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |