Wilkes Dam
Wilkes Dam is an earth dam located in Henderson County, North Carolina. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Wilkes Dam
The primary purpose of Wilkes Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Saluda Community Land Trust, Inc. (private). It impounds the North Pacolet River near Melrose.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 130 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/09/2014. That was over 11 years ago.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Henderson |
| Nearest City | Melrose |
| River/Stream | North Pacolet River |
| Coordinates | 35.21730, -82.36780 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 130 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Saluda Community Land Trust, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/09/2014 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC03071 |
| Federal ID | NC03071 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |