Third Creek Watershed Dam #34a is an earth dam located in Iredell County, North Carolina, built in 1960. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 662 ft long, taller than 55% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Third Creek Watershed Dam #34a
The primary purpose of Third Creek Watershed Dam #34a 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 Garden Street Communities Southeast, LLC (private). It impounds the Third Creek near Cleveland.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 662 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 22 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 163 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 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/09/2023.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Iredell |
| Nearest City | Cleveland |
| River/Stream | Third Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.71510, -80.79840 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 662 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 163 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 163 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 84 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 22 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Garden Street Communities Southeast, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00133 |
| Federal ID | NC00133 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |