Roxboro West Ash Basin Dam
Roxboro West Ash Basin Dam is an earth dam located in Person County, North Carolina, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Roxboro West Ash Basin Dam
The primary purpose of Roxboro West Ash Basin Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Duke Energy Corporation (public utility). It impounds the Hyco River.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 1,360 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 240 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 5,567 acre-feet. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/17/2024.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Person |
| River/Stream | Hyco River |
| Coordinates | 36.47660, -79.07730 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,360 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,567 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,567 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,493 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 240 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Duke Energy Corporation |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/17/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC06006 |
| Federal ID | NC06006 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |