Richardson Lake Dam
Richardson Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Columbus County, North Carolina, built in 1955. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Richardson Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Richardson Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by J. P. Jones Enterprises, Llc (private). It impounds the Gapway Swamp near Cherry Grove.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 386 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 288 acre-feet. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 09/07/2023.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Columbus |
| Nearest City | Cherry Grove |
| River/Stream | Gapway Swamp |
| Coordinates | 34.22630, -78.95950 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 386 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 288 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 288 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 240 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 53 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | J. P. Jones Enterprises, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/07/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01194 |
| Federal ID | NC01194 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |