Ballantyne Lower Dam is an earth dam located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, built in 1997. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 290 ft long, taller than 78% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Ballantyne Lower Dam
The primary purpose of Ballantyne Lower Dam 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 Post Ballantyne, LLC (private). It impounds the Mcalpine Creek.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 290 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 19 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1997, the structure is 29 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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 12/03/2024.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Mecklenburg |
| River/Stream | Mcalpine Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.05120, -80.84650 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 290 ft |
| Year Completed | 1997 (29 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 19 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 19 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 307 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Post Ballantyne, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/03/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05319 |
| Federal ID | NC05319 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |