Siler City Water Supply Dam
Siler City Water Supply Dam is an earth dam located in Chatham County, North Carolina, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Siler City Water Supply Dam
The primary purpose of Siler City Water Supply Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Siler City (local government). It impounds the Ut To Rocky River near Siler City.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 70 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 53 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/15/2025.
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 | Chatham |
| Nearest City | Siler City |
| River/Stream | Ut To Rocky River |
| Coordinates | 35.76529, -79.45950 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 53 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 69 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Siler City |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/15/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00618 |
| Federal ID | NC00618 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |