Poplar Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Caldwell County, North Carolina. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 330 ft long, taller than 55% 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 Poplar Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Poplar Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sammie Ollis (private). It impounds the Little Gunpowder Creek.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 330 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 42 acre-feet.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 12/08/2022.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Caldwell |
| River/Stream | Little Gunpowder Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.82700, -81.47080 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 330 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 42 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 42 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Sammie Ollis |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC02008 |
| Federal ID | NC02008 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |