Forge Mountain Grist Mill Dam
Forge Mountain Grist Mill Dam is an earth dam located in Henderson County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Forge Mountain Grist Mill Dam
The primary purpose of Forge Mountain Grist Mill Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Rice Property Management, Llc (private). It impounds the Turkey Creek near Mills River.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 385 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 32 acre-feet.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/05/2024.
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 | Henderson |
| Nearest City | Mills River |
| River/Stream | Turkey Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.34730, -82.62100 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 385 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Max Discharge | 125 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Rice Property Management, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01279 |
| Federal ID | NC01279 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |