Cherry Ridge Dam is an earth dam located in Rutherford County, North Carolina, built in 1999. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 450 ft long, taller than 86% 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 Cherry Ridge Dam
The primary purpose of Cherry Ridge Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by David J Taylor (private). It impounds the Puzzle Creek near Forest City.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 109 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1999, the structure is 27 years old.
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 02/23/2023.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Rutherford |
| Nearest City | Forest City |
| River/Stream | Puzzle Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.40210, -81.77410 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1999 (27 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 109 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 109 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 88 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | David J Taylor |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/23/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05460 |
| Federal ID | NC05460 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |