Muddy Creek Dam #19 is an earth dam located in McDowell County, North Carolina, built in 1961. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 55 ft55 ft tall and 569 ft long, taller than 94% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Muddy Creek Dam #19
The primary purpose of Muddy Creek Dam #19 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 Boy Scouts of America, Mecklenburg County Council (private). It impounds the Hopper Creek near Dysartsville.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 569 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. Completed in 1961, 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 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 03/13/2023.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | McDowell |
| Nearest City | Dysartsville |
| River/Stream | Hopper Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.59170, -81.88100 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 569 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Boy Scouts of America, Mecklenburg County Council |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00176 |
| Federal ID | NC00176 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |