Stewarts Creek Ws Dam #1a
Stewarts Creek Ws Dam #1a is an earth dam located in Surry County, North Carolina, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Stewarts Creek Ws Dam #1a
The primary purpose of Stewarts Creek Ws Dam #1a 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 John W Puckett (private). It impounds the Stewarts Creek near Mount Airy.
The dam stands 91 feet tall and stretches 950 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 82 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,091 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/11/2025.
At 91 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Surry |
| Nearest City | Mount Airy |
| River/Stream | Stewarts Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.55040, -80.75470 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 91 ft |
| Dam Length | 950 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,091 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,091 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 964 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 82 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 29,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | John W Puckett |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/11/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00377 |
| Federal ID | NC00377 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |