Cardinal Lake Dam
Cardinal Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Moore County, North Carolina, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Cardinal Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Cardinal Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Village Of Whispering Pines (local government). It impounds the Ut To Mill Creek.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 53 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 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 05/01/2024.
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 | Moore |
| River/Stream | Ut To Mill Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.23550, -79.37100 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 550 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Village of Whispering Pines |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/01/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC03594 |
| Federal ID | NC03594 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |