Dutchman Creek Ws Dam #15a
Dutchman Creek Ws Dam #15a is an earth dam located in Davie County, North Carolina, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Dutchman Creek Ws Dam #15a
The primary purpose of Dutchman Creek Ws Dam #15a 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 Davie County Watershed Improvement Commission (local government). It impounds the Ellsworth Creek near High Rock.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 485 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 90 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,580 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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 01/18/2024.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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 | Davie |
| Nearest City | High Rock |
| River/Stream | Ellsworth Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.88640, -80.49260 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 485 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,580 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,580 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 362 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 90 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,650 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Davie County Watershed Improvement Commission |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/18/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00370 |
| Federal ID | NC00370 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |