Tynecastle Dam
Tynecastle Dam is an earth dam located in Avery County, North Carolina, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Tynecastle Dam
The primary purpose of Tynecastle Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Robert C Schwebke (private). It impounds the Watauga River near Foscoe.
The dam stands 49 feet tall and stretches 436 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 75 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/02/2025.
At 49 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Avery |
| Nearest City | Foscoe |
| River/Stream | Watauga River |
| Coordinates | 36.12100, -81.83500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Length | 436 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 400 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Robert C Schwebke |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/02/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01243 |
| Federal ID | NC01243 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |