Freedom Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Buncombe County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 250 ft long, taller than 83% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Freedom Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Freedom Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Freedom Baptist Church, Inc. (private). It impounds the Hominy Creek near Asheville.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 28 acre-feet.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/27/2021.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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 | Buncombe |
| Nearest City | Asheville |
| River/Stream | Hominy Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.59430, -82.63890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 28 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 28 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Max Discharge | 600 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Freedom Baptist Church, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/27/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01249 |
| Federal ID | NC01249 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |