Busbee Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Buncombe County, North Carolina, built in 1914. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 708 ft long. 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 Busbee Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Busbee Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by The Biltmore Company (private). It impounds the Ut to Sweeten Creek near Biltmore.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 708 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 48 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1914, the structure is over a century 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/15/2024.
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 | Buncombe |
| Nearest City | Biltmore |
| River/Stream | Ut to Sweeten Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.54340, -82.50880 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 708 ft |
| Year Completed | 1914 (112 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 48 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 48 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 480 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | The Biltmore Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/15/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01887 |
| Federal ID | NC01887 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |