Hickory Nut Lower Dam is an earth dam located in Rutherford County, North Carolina, built in 1974. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 48 ft48 ft tall and 250 ft long, taller than 92% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Hickory Nut Lower Dam
The primary purpose of Hickory Nut Lower Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Riverbend Property Owners Assc., Inc. (private). It impounds the Broad River near Cliffside.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 240 acre-feet. Completed in 1974, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 02/10/2023.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Rutherford |
| Nearest City | Cliffside |
| River/Stream | Broad River |
| Coordinates | 35.43000, -82.16920 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 240 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 240 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Riverbend Property Owners Assc., Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/10/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01389 |
| Federal ID | NC01389 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |