Lake Tabor Dam
Lake Tabor Dam is an earth dam located in Columbus County, North Carolina, built in 1999. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lake Tabor Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Tabor Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Tabor City (local government). It impounds the Grissett Swamp.
The dam stands 15 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 172 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1999, the structure is 27 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/12/2024.
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 | Columbus |
| River/Stream | Grissett Swamp |
| Coordinates | 34.15940, -78.85860 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Year Completed | 1999 (27 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 590 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 172 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Tabor City |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 08/12/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01196 |
| Federal ID | NC01196 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |