Sapphire Lake Lower Dam is a concrete dam located in Jackson County, North Carolina, built in 1922. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 145 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Sapphire Lake Lower Dam
The primary purpose of Sapphire Lake Lower Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sapphire Properties, LP (private). It impounds the Horsepasture River near Sapphire.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 145 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 46 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 400 acre-feet. Completed in 1922, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/13/2025.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Sapphire |
| River/Stream | Horsepasture River |
| Coordinates | 35.10820, -83.01200 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 145 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 46 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Sapphire Properties, LP |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01201 |
| Federal ID | NC01201 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |