Falls Lake Dam
Falls Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina, built in 1981. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Falls Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Falls Lake 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 Usace - Wilmington District (federal). It impounds the Neuse River near Falls.
The dam stands 92 feet tall and stretches 1,915 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11,310 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,020,980 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 770 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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 03/30/2022.
At 92 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Wake |
| Nearest City | Falls |
| River/Stream | Neuse River |
| Coordinates | 35.94154, -78.58270 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 92 ft |
| Dam Height | 92 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,915 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,020,980 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,020,980 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 114,740 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11,310 acres |
| Drainage Area | 770 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 35,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Wilmington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/30/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01713 |
| Federal ID | NC01713 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |