Johnson Dam
Johnson Dam is an earth dam located in Avery County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Johnson Dam
The primary purpose of Johnson Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Cherie Johnson (private). It impounds the Ashely Creek near Spear.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 155 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 18 acre-feet.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/19/2016. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Spear |
| River/Stream | Ashely Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.07579, -81.97754 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 155 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Max Discharge | 82 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Cherie Johnson |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/19/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01853 |
| Federal ID | NC01853 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |