Neill Dam is an earth dam located in Catawba County, North Carolina, built in 1987. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 770 ft long, taller than 80% 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 Neill Dam
The primary purpose of Neill Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Neill Grading and Construction Company, Inc. (private). It impounds the S. Fork Mountain Creek.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 770 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 28 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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 12/13/2023.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Catawba |
| River/Stream | S. Fork Mountain Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.60340, -81.07600 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 770 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 28 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Neill Grading and Construction Company, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC02062 |
| Federal ID | NC02062 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |