Tar River Reservoir Dam
Tar River Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Nash County, North Carolina, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Tar River Reservoir Dam
Tar River Reservoir Dam is a dam in Nash, North Carolina. The dam is owned by City Of Rocky Mount (local government). It impounds the Tar River near Rocky Mount.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,000 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,440 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 775 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 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 01/07/2025.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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 | Nash |
| Nearest City | Rocky Mount |
| River/Stream | Tar River |
| Coordinates | 35.89900, -77.88500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,440 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,440 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,000 acres |
| Drainage Area | 775 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 66 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | City of Rocky Mount |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/07/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00913 |
| Federal ID | NC00913 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |