Bailey Lake Dam
Bailey Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Durham County, North Carolina, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bailey Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bailey Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Marc D Recktenwald (private). It impounds the Little Lick Creek near Falls.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 345 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/09/2021.
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 | Falls |
| River/Stream | Little Lick Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.99560, -78.78660 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 345 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 62 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 201 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Marc D Recktenwald |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/09/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01032 |
| Federal ID | NC01032 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |