Mitchell Dam is an earth dam located in Jackson County, North Carolina. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 22 ft22 ft tall and 190 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 Mitchell Dam
The primary purpose of Mitchell Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (private). It impounds the Shoal Creek near Birdtown.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 190 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 24 acre-feet.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 03/10/2025.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Birdtown |
| River/Stream | Shoal Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.43350, -83.29510 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 190 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 24 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 24 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/10/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC03176 |
| Federal ID | NC03176 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |