Lake Lee Dam
Lake Lee Dam is a concrete dam located in Union County, North Carolina, built in 1925. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Lee Dam
Lake Lee Dam is a dam in Union, North Carolina. The dam is owned by City Of Monroe (local government). It impounds the Richardson Creek near Monroe.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 122 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,465 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 51 square miles. Completed in 1925, the structure is over a century old.
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 01/09/2025.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% 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 | Union |
| Nearest City | Monroe |
| River/Stream | Richardson Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.96560, -80.51110 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1925 (101 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,465 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,465 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,507 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 122 acres |
| Drainage Area | 51 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25,009 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | City of Monroe |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00536 |
| Federal ID | NC00536 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |