College Lake Dam
College Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About College Lake Dam
The primary purpose of College Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Fayetteville (local government). It impounds the Cape Fear River near Fayetteville.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 565 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 317 acre-feet. 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/19/2024.
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 | Cape Fear River |
| Coordinates | 35.14082, -78.89178 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 565 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 317 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 317 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 264 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 66 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Fayetteville |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/19/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01154 |
| Federal ID | NC01154 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |