Cataloochee Ranch Dam
Cataloochee Ranch Dam is an earth dam located in Haywood County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Cataloochee Ranch Dam
The primary purpose of Cataloochee Ranch Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Cataloochee Ranch Properties, Llc (private). It impounds the Evans Creek.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 132 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 0 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 5 acre-feet.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/01/2025.
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 | Haywood |
| River/Stream | Evans Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.54970, -83.09100 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 132 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 0 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Cataloochee Ranch Properties, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/01/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC03001 |
| Federal ID | NC03001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |