Lake Craig Dam
Lake Craig Dam is a concrete dam located in Buncombe County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Craig Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Craig Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City Of Asheville (local government). It impounds the Swannanoa River near Asheville.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 176 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 50 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/17/2024.
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 | Buncombe |
| Nearest City | Asheville |
| River/Stream | Swannanoa River |
| Coordinates | 35.58190, -82.49330 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 176 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Asheville |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/17/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01254 |
| Federal ID | NC01254 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |