Lake Tiaroga Dam
Lake Tiaroga Dam is an earth dam located in Transylvania County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Tiaroga Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Tiaroga Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Connestee Falls Poa, Inc. (private). It impounds the Batson Creek near Dunns Rock.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 261 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,010 acre-feet.
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 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 04/25/2025.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Transylvania |
| Nearest City | Dunns Rock |
| River/Stream | Batson Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.14290, -82.73520 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 261 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,010 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,010 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 820 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Connestee Falls POA, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/25/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00194 |
| Federal ID | NC00194 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |