Lake George Dam is an earth dam located in McDowell County, North Carolina. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 210 ft long, taller than 83% 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 Lake George Dam
The primary purpose of Lake George Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Gateway Mountain Property Owners Assc., Inc. (private). It impounds the Sally Branch near Lake Lure.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 210 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 83 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 03/13/2023.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | McDowell |
| Nearest City | Lake Lure |
| River/Stream | Sally Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.53780, -82.16100 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 210 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 83 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 83 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 52 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 830 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Gateway Mountain Property Owners Assc., Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05448 |
| Federal ID | NC05448 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |