Charles L. Turner Reservoir Dam is a concrete dam located in Chatham County, North Carolina, built in 2009. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 12 ft12 ft tall and 170 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Charles L. Turner Reservoir Dam
Charles L. Turner Reservoir Dam is a dam in Chatham, North Carolina. The dam is owned by Town of Siler City (local government). It impounds the Rocky River near Siler City.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 170 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 53 square miles. Completed in 2009, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/15/2025.
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 | Chatham |
| Nearest City | Siler City |
| River/Stream | Rocky River |
| Coordinates | 35.76285, -79.45560 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 170 ft |
| Year Completed | 2009 (17 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 53 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 578 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Town of Siler City |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/15/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00619 |
| Federal ID | NC00619 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |