Hf Lee Cooling Lake Dam
Hf Lee Cooling Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wayne County, North Carolina, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Hf Lee Cooling Lake Dam
Hf Lee Cooling Lake Dam is a dam in Wayne, North Carolina. The dam is owned by Duke Energy Corporation (public utility). It impounds the Neuse River near Goldsboro.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 24,288 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 562 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,446 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1955, 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 05/13/2025.
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 | Wayne |
| Nearest City | Goldsboro |
| River/Stream | Neuse River |
| Coordinates | 35.38080, -78.08450 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 24,288 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,446 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,446 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,808 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 562 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Duke Energy Corporation |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00944 |
| Federal ID | NC00944 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |