Carter Lake Dam
Carter Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Guilford County, North Carolina, built in 1964. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Carter Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Carter 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 Joseph D Brady (private). It impounds the Mears Fork Creek near Altamahaw.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 474 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 55 acre-feet. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 02/15/2023.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Guilford |
| Nearest City | Altamahaw |
| River/Stream | Mears Fork Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.23450, -79.82050 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 474 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 44 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Max Discharge | 165 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Joseph D Brady |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/15/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00589 |
| Federal ID | NC00589 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |