Town Of Sylva Water Supply Dam
Town Of Sylva Water Supply Dam is an earth dam located in Jackson County, North Carolina, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Town Of Sylva Water Supply Dam
The primary purpose of Town Of Sylva Water Supply Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Town Of Sylva (local government). It impounds the Dills Branch near Sylva.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 560 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 17 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 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 03/10/2025.
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 | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Sylva |
| River/Stream | Dills Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.40870, -83.19920 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 560 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Town of Sylva |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/10/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC06111 |
| Federal ID | NC06111 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |