James Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Richmond County, North Carolina, built in 1955. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 675 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 James Lake Dam
The primary purpose of James Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Virginia J Shelley (private). It impounds the Marks Creek near Everetts Mill.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 675 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 158 acre-feet. Completed in 1955, 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 04/20/2022.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Richmond |
| Nearest City | Everetts Mill |
| River/Stream | Marks Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.84990, -79.69940 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 675 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 158 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 158 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 132 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Max Discharge | 7 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Virginia J Shelley |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/20/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00638 |
| Federal ID | NC00638 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |