Santeetlah

About Santeetlah

The primary purpose of Santeetlah is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Brookfield Renewable Energy Group (aro) (private). It impounds the Cheoah near Cocran Creek Road Village.

The dam stands 216 feet tall and stretches 1,054 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,884 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 207,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 176 square miles. Completed in 1928, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/20/2022.

At 216 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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.

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