Watauga Vista Dam is an earth dam located in Macon County, North Carolina, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 167 ft long, taller than 89% 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Watauga Vista Dam
The primary purpose of Watauga Vista Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Watauga Vista Owners Association, Inc. (private). It impounds the Watauga Creek near Watauga.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 167 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 31 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1968, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/28/2025.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% 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 | Macon |
| Nearest City | Watauga |
| River/Stream | Watauga Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.24900, -83.31110 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 167 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 24 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 808 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Watauga Vista Owners Association, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01365 |
| Federal ID | NC01365 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |