Third Creek Watershed Dam #7a
Third Creek Watershed Dam #7a is an earth dam located in Alexander County, North Carolina, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Third Creek Watershed Dam #7a
The primary purpose of Third Creek Watershed Dam #7a 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 Jacob S Sink (private). It impounds the Third Creek near Stony Point.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 876 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 01/16/2025.
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 | Alexander |
| Nearest City | Stony Point |
| River/Stream | Third Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.87030, -81.06800 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 876 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 876 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 73 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 660 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Jacob S Sink |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00297 |
| Federal ID | NC00297 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |