Symphony Lake Dam
Symphony Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina, built in 1982. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Symphony Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Symphony Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Cary (local government). It impounds the Swift Creek near Raleigh.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 27 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 350 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1982, the structure is 44 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/20/2025.
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 | Wake |
| Nearest City | Raleigh |
| River/Stream | Swift Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.72740, -78.79270 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1982 (44 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 131 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 27 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Cary |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/20/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC04624 |
| Federal ID | NC04624 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |