Apalachia Dam
Apalachia Dam is a concrete dam located in Cherokee County, North Carolina, built in 1943. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Apalachia Dam
The primary purpose of Apalachia Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Tva (federal). It impounds the Hiwassee River near Turtletown.
The dam stands 150 feet tall and stretches 1,308 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,100 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 63,456 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,018 square miles. Completed in 1943, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/30/2024.
At 150 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Cherokee |
| Nearest City | Turtletown |
| River/Stream | Hiwassee River |
| Coordinates | 35.16786, -84.29547 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 150 ft |
| Dam Height | 150 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,308 ft |
| Year Completed | 1943 (83 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 63,456 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 63,456 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 55,524 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,100 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,018 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 164,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/30/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00181 |
| Federal ID | NC00181 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |