Marimont Lower Dam is an earth dam located in McDowell County, North Carolina, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 365 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Marimont Lower Dam
The primary purpose of Marimont Lower Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mcdowell County (local government). It impounds the Muddy Creek near Glenwood.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 365 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 40 acre-feet. Completed in 1965, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 03/21/2025.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | McDowell |
| Nearest City | Glenwood |
| River/Stream | Muddy Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.64890, -81.96890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 365 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Mcdowell County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/21/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00102 |
| Federal ID | NC00102 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |