Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #2
Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #2 is a concrete dam located in Mitchell County, North Carolina, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #2
The primary purpose of Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #2 is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. It impounds the Graveyard Creek near Spruce Pine.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 175 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 22 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/30/2011. That was 14 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
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 | Mitchell |
| Nearest City | Spruce Pine |
| River/Stream | Graveyard Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.89140, -82.08490 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 175 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 22 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 22 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/30/2011 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC03494 |
| Federal ID | NC03494 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |