Mother Earth Dam Lower
Mother Earth Dam Lower is an earth dam located in Transylvania County, North Carolina, built in 1948. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Mother Earth Dam Lower
The primary purpose of Mother Earth Dam Lower is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Jane Shuttleworth (private). It impounds the Gash Creek near Blantyre.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 104 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 03/04/2024.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Transylvania |
| Nearest City | Blantyre |
| River/Stream | Gash Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.30280, -82.63580 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 104 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 104 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Jane Shuttleworth |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/04/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00196 |
| Federal ID | NC00196 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |