Wallace Lake Dam
Wallace Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, built in 1925. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Wallace Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Wallace Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. It impounds the Buckhead Creek near Fayetteville.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 480 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1925, the structure is over a century 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/08/2022.
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.
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 | Fayetteville |
| River/Stream | Buckhead Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.01210, -78.95080 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1925 (101 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 480 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 480 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 116 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 12/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01134 |
| Federal ID | NC01134 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |