Lake Royale Dam
Lake Royale Dam is an earth dam located in Franklin County, North Carolina, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Royale Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Royale Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Royale Property Association (private). It impounds the Cypress Creek near Spring Hope.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 330 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,260 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 30 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/22/2023.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Franklin |
| Nearest City | Spring Hope |
| River/Stream | Cypress Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.95080, -78.18920 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,260 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,260 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,313 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 330 acres |
| Drainage Area | 30 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 52,800 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lake Royale Property Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/22/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00821 |
| Federal ID | NC00821 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |