Linville Land Harbor Dam is an earth dam located in Avery County, North Carolina, built in 2010. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 31 ft31 ft tall and 560 ft long, taller than 72% 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 Linville Land Harbor Dam
The primary purpose of Linville Land Harbor Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Linville Land Harbor Property Owners Association (private). It impounds the Linville River near Pineola.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 560 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 150 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19 square miles. Completed in 2010, the structure is relatively new.
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 04/02/2025.
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 | Avery |
| Nearest City | Pineola |
| River/Stream | Linville River |
| Coordinates | 36.03700, -81.89210 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 560 ft |
| Year Completed | 2010 (16 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 150 acres |
| Drainage Area | 19 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 31,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Linville Land Harbor Property Owners Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/02/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00278 |
| Federal ID | NC00278 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |