Lower Little River Dam #2

Lower Little River Dam #2 is an earth dam located in Alexander County, North Carolina, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Lower Little River Dam #2

The primary purpose of Lower Little River Dam #2 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Robert L Syvertson (private). It impounds the Lower Little River near Millersville.

The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 260 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 86 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1958, 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.

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.

High HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateNorth Carolina
CountyAlexander
Nearest CityMillersville
River/StreamLower Little River
Coordinates35.89130, -81.23650

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height25 ft
Dam Length260 ft
Year Completed1958 (68 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage86 acre-ft
Max Storage86 acre-ft
Normal Storage72 acre-ft
Surface Area10 acres
Drainage Area1 sq mi
Max Discharge900 cfs
Spillway TypeControlled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerRobert L Syvertson
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection01/16/2025
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDNC00379
Federal IDNC00379
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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