Mt. Vernon Estates Dam is an earth dam located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, built in 1989. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 14 ft14 ft tall and 375 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 Mt. Vernon Estates Dam
The primary purpose of Mt. Vernon Estates Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Erika Reeves (private). It impounds the Kirks Mill Creek near Tar Heel.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 375 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 79 acre-feet. Completed in 1989, the structure is 37 years 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/30/2024.
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 | Cumberland |
| Nearest City | Tar Heel |
| River/Stream | Kirks Mill Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.85340, -78.87690 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 375 ft |
| Year Completed | 1989 (37 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,056 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 79 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,056 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Erika Reeves |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 09/30/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC02160 |
| Federal ID | NC02160 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |