Starling Dam
Starling Dam is an earth dam located in Macon County, North Carolina, built in 1955. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Starling Dam
The primary purpose of Starling Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Harold J Starling (private). It impounds the Ut To Rocky Branch near Iotla.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 174 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 11 acre-feet. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 02/28/2025.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Macon |
| Nearest City | Iotla |
| River/Stream | Ut To Rocky Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.20880, -83.40380 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 174 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Harold J Starling |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC03338 |
| Federal ID | NC03338 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |