Hiwassee Dam
Hiwassee Dam is a concrete dam located in Cherokee County, North Carolina, built in 1940. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Hiwassee Dam
The primary purpose of Hiwassee Dam 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 Tva (federal). It impounds the Hiwassee River near Reliance.
The dam stands 307 feet tall and stretches 1,376 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,870 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 471,954 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 968 square miles. Completed in 1940, 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 04/09/2025.
At 307 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 | Reliance |
| River/Stream | Hiwassee River |
| Coordinates | 35.15152, -84.17756 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 307 ft |
| Dam Height | 248 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,376 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 471,954 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 471,954 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 398,583 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,870 acres |
| Drainage Area | 968 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 149,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00419 |
| Federal ID | NC00419 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |