Smith Lake Dam
Smith Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, built in 1951. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Smith Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Smith Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Smith Lake, Lp (private). It impounds the Little Meadow Creek near Locust.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 660 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 169 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1951, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 12/07/2023.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Cabarrus |
| Nearest City | Locust |
| River/Stream | Little Meadow Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.32710, -80.42160 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 660 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 169 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 169 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 141 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Smith Lake, LP |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/07/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00527 |
| Federal ID | NC00527 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |