Hillside Lake Dam

Hillside Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Guilford County, North Carolina, built in 1920. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Hillside Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Hillside Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by River Hills Plantation Homeowners Association (private). It impounds the Brush Creek near Greensboro.

The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. Completed in 1920, 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 01/18/2024.

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.

High HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateNorth Carolina
CountyGuilford
Nearest CityGreensboro
River/StreamBrush Creek
Coordinates36.13219, -79.92403

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height20 ft
Dam Length300 ft
Year Completed1920 (106 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage80 acre-ft
Max Storage80 acre-ft
Normal Storage68 acre-ft
Surface Area10 acres
Max Discharge165 cfs
Spillway TypeControlled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerRiver Hills Plantation Homeowners Association
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection01/18/2024
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDNC00585
Federal IDNC00585
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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