Muddy Creek Dam #15
Muddy Creek Dam #15 is an earth dam located in McDowell County, North Carolina, built in 1962. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Muddy Creek Dam #15
The primary purpose of Muddy Creek Dam #15 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Mcdowell Soil And Water Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Allen Mill Creek near Morganton.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 370 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 230 acre-feet. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. 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 03/13/2023.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | McDowell |
| Nearest City | Morganton |
| River/Stream | Allen Mill Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.61490, -81.88830 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 370 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 230 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 230 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 144 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Max Discharge | 3,700 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | McDowell Soil and Water Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00175 |
| Federal ID | NC00175 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |