Andrews Dam
Andrews Dam is an earth dam located in Avery County, North Carolina. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Andrews Dam
The primary purpose of Andrews Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Caroline H Mercer (private). It impounds the Ut To Hanging Rock Creek near Banner Elk.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 263 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 26 acre-feet.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 04/21/2025.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Avery |
| Nearest City | Banner Elk |
| River/Stream | Ut To Hanging Rock Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.15000, -81.84660 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 263 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 22 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Caroline H Mercer |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/21/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01864 |
| Federal ID | NC01864 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |