Washburn Lake Dam
Washburn Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Rockingham County, North Carolina, built in 1950. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Washburn Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Washburn Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Numa G Washburn (private). It impounds the Troublesome Creek near Foushee.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 123 acre-feet. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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 02/11/2025.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Rockingham |
| Nearest City | Foushee |
| River/Stream | Troublesome Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.30740, -79.67690 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 123 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 123 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 109 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Max Discharge | 82 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Numa G Washburn |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/11/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00558 |
| Federal ID | NC00558 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |