Willow Valley Lake Dam
Willow Valley Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Henderson County, North Carolina, built in 1967. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Willow Valley Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Willow Valley Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Jerald V Houck (private). It impounds the South Fork Creek near Bowman Bluff.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 415 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 35 acre-feet. 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 01/06/2023.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Henderson |
| Nearest City | Bowman Bluff |
| River/Stream | South Fork Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.28870, -82.54600 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 415 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 35 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 35 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Jerald V Houck |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/06/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00400 |
| Federal ID | NC00400 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |