Matson Dam is an earth dam located in Guilford County, North Carolina. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 271 ft long, taller than 55% 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 Matson Dam
The primary purpose of Matson Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Clarence M Caviness (private). It impounds the Big Alamance Creek.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 271 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 31 acre-feet.
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 01/15/2025.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Guilford |
| River/Stream | Big Alamance Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.01780, -79.60840 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 271 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Clarence M Caviness |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 01/15/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC02899 |
| Federal ID | NC02899 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |