Waynesville Water Supply Dam
Waynesville Water Supply Dam is an earth dam located in Haywood County, North Carolina, built in 1982. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Waynesville Water Supply Dam
The primary purpose of Waynesville Water Supply Dam 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 Town Of Waynesville (local government). It impounds the Allen Creek near Hazelwood.
The dam stands 142 feet tall and stretches 870 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 76 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,660 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1982, the structure is 44 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 04/01/2025.
At 142 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.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Haywood |
| Nearest City | Hazelwood |
| River/Stream | Allen Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.42510, -83.00960 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 142 ft |
| Dam Length | 870 ft |
| Year Completed | 1982 (44 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,660 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,660 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 18,878 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Town of Waynesville |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/01/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01270 |
| Federal ID | NC01270 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |