Beacon Reservoir Dam
Beacon Reservoir Dam is a concrete dam located in Buncombe County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Beacon Reservoir Dam
Beacon Reservoir Dam is a dam in Buncombe, North Carolina. It impounds the Swannanoa River.
The dam stands 50 feet tall.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/08/2007. That was 18 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Buncombe |
| River/Stream | Swannanoa River |
| Coordinates | 35.59070, -82.38850 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 06/08/2007 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01246 |
| Federal ID | NC01246 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |