High Shoals is a masonry dam located in Gaston County, North Carolina, built in 1922. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 625 ft long, taller than 80% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 High Shoals
The primary purpose of High Shoals is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by High Shoals, LLC (private). It impounds the South Fork Catawba near Hardins.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 625 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 20 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 509 square miles. Completed in 1922, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 08/27/2019.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Gaston |
| Nearest City | Hardins |
| River/Stream | South Fork Catawba |
| Coordinates | 35.39633, -81.20264 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 625 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 509 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 28,828 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | High Shoals, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/27/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01210 |
| Federal ID | NC01210 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |