Isothermal College Dam
Isothermal College Dam is an earth dam located in Rutherford County, North Carolina, built in 1969. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Isothermal College Dam
The primary purpose of Isothermal College Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Isothermal Community College (state). It impounds the Bracketts Creek near Forest City.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 876 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 104 acre-feet. Completed in 1969, 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 01/15/2025.
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 | Rutherford |
| Nearest City | Forest City |
| River/Stream | Bracketts Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.33910, -81.91030 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 876 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 104 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 104 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Max Discharge | 1,600 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Isothermal Community College |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/15/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00098 |
| Federal ID | NC00098 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |