Mccurdy Dam
Mccurdy Dam is an earth dam located in Alexander County, North Carolina, built in 1986. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Mccurdy Dam
The primary purpose of Mccurdy Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Jackie D Mccurdy (private). It impounds the Big Branch near Cooleemee.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 240 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 23 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1986, the structure is 40 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 01/16/2025.
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 | Alexander |
| Nearest City | Cooleemee |
| River/Stream | Big Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.98880, -81.10650 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 240 ft |
| Year Completed | 1986 (40 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 23 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 23 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 166 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Jackie D McCurdy |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01808 |
| Federal ID | NC01808 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |