Lake Wilson Dam
Lake Wilson Dam is an earth dam located in Wilson County, North Carolina, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Wilson Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Wilson Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Wilson (local government). It impounds the Toisnot Swamp near Wilson.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 431 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 81 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 998 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 39 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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 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 03/02/2023.
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 | Wilson |
| Nearest City | Wilson |
| River/Stream | Toisnot Swamp |
| Coordinates | 35.78890, -77.92060 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 431 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 998 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 998 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 487 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 81 acres |
| Drainage Area | 39 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,229 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Wilson |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/02/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00894 |
| Federal ID | NC00894 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |