Aren Beshears Dam is an earth dam located in Wilkes County, North Carolina, built in 1976. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 142 ft long, taller than 50% 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 Aren Beshears Dam
The primary purpose of Aren Beshears Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Joan E Wilkins (private). It impounds the Little Fork Creek near Wilbar.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 142 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 30 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 50 years 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. The most recent inspection on record was 01/03/2025.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Wilkes |
| Nearest City | Wilbar |
| River/Stream | Little Fork Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.25860, -81.35950 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 142 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 327 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Joan E Wilkins |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 01/03/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01463 |
| Federal ID | NC01463 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |