Johnson Dam
Johnson Dam is an earth dam located in Davidson County, North Carolina, built in 1983. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Johnson Dam
The primary purpose of Johnson Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Alexander J Lim (private). It impounds the Ut To Rich Fork Creek near Lexington.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 430 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 75 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1983, the structure is 43 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/06/2025.
At 36 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 | Davidson |
| Nearest City | Lexington |
| River/Stream | Ut To Rich Fork Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.96860, -80.06650 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 430 ft |
| Year Completed | 1983 (43 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 62 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 150 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Alexander J Lim |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/06/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC02190 |
| Federal ID | NC02190 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |