Lake Michie Dam
Lake Michie Dam is an earth dam located in Durham County, North Carolina, built in 1926. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Michie Dam
Lake Michie Dam is a dam in Durham, North Carolina. The dam is owned by City Of Durham Department Of Water Management (local government). It impounds the Flat River near Redwood.
The dam stands 92 feet tall and stretches 920 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 460 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18,660 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 167 square miles. Completed in 1926, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 10/28/2020.
At 92 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Durham |
| Nearest City | Redwood |
| River/Stream | Flat River |
| Coordinates | 36.15080, -78.82990 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 92 ft |
| Dam Length | 920 ft |
| Year Completed | 1926 (100 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18,660 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18,660 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 460 acres |
| Drainage Area | 167 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 47,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | City of Durham Department of Water Management |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/28/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01027 |
| Federal ID | NC01027 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |