Russell Dam
Russell Dam is an earth dam located in Buncombe County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Russell Dam
The primary purpose of Russell Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. It impounds the Upper Flat Creek near Bat Cave.
The dam stands 12 feet tall.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/18/2009. That was 16 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
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 | Bat Cave |
| River/Stream | Upper Flat Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.53800, -82.32260 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 05/18/2009 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01919 |
| Federal ID | NC01919 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |