Johns Lake Dam

About Johns Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Johns Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Helen Livingston (private). It impounds the Leith Creek near Dillon, Sc.

The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 521 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 115 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 540 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 29 square miles. Completed in 1840, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/14/2022.

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.

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