Yelton Dam is an earth dam located in Rutherford County, North Carolina. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 72 ft72 ft tall and 538 ft long, taller than 96% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Yelton Dam
The primary purpose of Yelton Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sandra J Austin (private). It impounds the Cathey's Creek near Bostic.
The dam stands 72 feet tall and stretches 538 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 90 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 01/10/2024.
At 72 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Rutherford |
| Nearest City | Bostic |
| River/Stream | Cathey's Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.39120, -81.91060 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Length | 538 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Sandra J Austin |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/10/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC04115 |
| Federal ID | NC04115 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |