Lake Charles Dam
Lake Charles Dam is an earth dam located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Charles Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Charles Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. It impounds the Rockfish Creek near Hope Mills.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 840 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 156 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/05/2023.
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 | Cumberland |
| Nearest City | Hope Mills |
| River/Stream | Rockfish Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.96520, -78.97830 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 840 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 156 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 156 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 130 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 53 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/05/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01122 |
| Federal ID | NC01122 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |