Benfield Dam
Benfield Dam is an earth dam located in Caldwell County, North Carolina, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Benfield Dam
The primary purpose of Benfield Dam is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam maintains a small impoundment used for fire suppression, livestock watering, or as a fish pond. The dam is owned by Kimberly D Cobb (private). It impounds the Angley Creek.
The dam stands 26 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/26/2025.
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 | Caldwell |
| River/Stream | Angley Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.88630, -81.49090 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | Kimberly D Cobb |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/26/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC02000 |
| Federal ID | NC02000 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |