Beech Mountain Water Supply Dam
Beech Mountain Water Supply Dam is an earth dam located in Watauga County, North Carolina, built in 1987. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Beech Mountain Water Supply Dam
The primary purpose of Beech Mountain Water Supply Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Town Of Beech Mountain (local government). It impounds the Buckeye Creek near Kellersville.
The dam stands 68 feet tall and stretches 293 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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 10/03/2024.
At 68 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Watauga |
| Nearest City | Kellersville |
| River/Stream | Buckeye Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.21970, -81.90730 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Length | 293 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Town of Beech Mountain |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/03/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC04661 |
| Federal ID | NC04661 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |