Connelly Dam
Connelly Dam is an earth dam located in Jackson County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Connelly Dam
The primary purpose of Connelly Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by James K Rowland (private). It impounds the Horsepasture River near Fairfield Development.
The dam stands 30 feet tall.
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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/28/2025.
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 | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Fairfield Development |
| River/Stream | Horsepasture River |
| Coordinates | 35.12160, -83.09990 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | James K Rowland |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC03184 |
| Federal ID | NC03184 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |