Third Creek Watershed Dam #18
Third Creek Watershed Dam #18 is an earth dam located in Iredell County, North Carolina, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Third Creek Watershed Dam #18
The primary purpose of Third Creek Watershed Dam #18 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 Barium Springs Home For Children (private). It impounds the Ut To Third Creek near Statesville.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 420 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 614 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/30/2025.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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 | Iredell |
| Nearest City | Statesville |
| River/Stream | Ut To Third Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.73330, -80.90360 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 420 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 614 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 614 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 36 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,671 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Barium Springs Home For Children |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00095 |
| Federal ID | NC00095 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |