Lake Lochmere Dam
Lake Lochmere Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Lochmere Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Lochmere Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lochmere Association, Inc. (private). It impounds the Lynn's Branch near Cary.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 339 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 728 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 02/14/2024.
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 | Wake |
| Nearest City | Cary |
| River/Stream | Lynn's Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.72640, -78.76470 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 728 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 728 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 339 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lochmere Association, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/14/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC04961 |
| Federal ID | NC04961 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |