Lake Hamilton Dam is an earth dam located in Guilford County, North Carolina, built in 1931. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 384 ft long, taller than 55% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Hamilton Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Hamilton Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Hamilton Lakes & Parks, Inc. (private). It impounds the Buffalo Creek near Greensboro.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 384 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 110 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1931, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 02/20/2024.
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.
Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Guilford |
| Nearest City | Greensboro |
| River/Stream | Buffalo Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.08630, -79.86420 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 384 ft |
| Year Completed | 1931 (95 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 94 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 83 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Hamilton Lakes & Parks, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/20/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00594 |
| Federal ID | NC00594 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |