King Lake Dam
King Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Chatham County, North Carolina, built in 1948. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About King Lake Dam
The primary purpose of King Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Jerome S King (private). It impounds the Ward Branch near Haywood.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 255 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 140 acre-feet. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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 12/18/2023.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Chatham |
| Nearest City | Haywood |
| River/Stream | Ward Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.77810, -79.09000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 255 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 115 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Max Discharge | 38 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Jerome S King |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/18/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00629 |
| Federal ID | NC00629 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |