Little Yadkin River Ws Dam #4 is an earth dam located in Stokes County, North Carolina, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 63 ft63 ft tall and 525 ft long, taller than 95% 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 Little Yadkin River Ws Dam #4
The primary purpose of Little Yadkin River Ws Dam #4 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Stokes County Soil & Water Conservation District (local government). It impounds the W. Prong Little Yadkin River near Donnaha.
The dam stands 63 feet tall and stretches 525 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 49 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,377 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/06/2023.
At 63 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Stokes |
| Nearest City | Donnaha |
| River/Stream | W. Prong Little Yadkin River |
| Coordinates | 36.34090, -80.42140 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 63 ft |
| Dam Length | 525 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,377 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,377 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 694 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 49 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Stokes County Soil & Water Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/06/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC04213 |
| Federal ID | NC04213 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |