Holding Lake Dam
Holding Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Holding Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Holding 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 Holding Village Owners Association, Inc. (private). It impounds the Smith Creek near Milburnie.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 145 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1958, 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 02/15/2022.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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 | Wake |
| Nearest City | Milburnie |
| River/Stream | Smith Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.95680, -78.50900 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 145 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 145 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 26 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Holding Village Owners Association, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00873 |
| Federal ID | NC00873 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |