James Mcgroarty Dam is an earth dam located in Guilford County, North Carolina, built in 2001. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 223 ft long, taller than 80% 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 James Mcgroarty Dam
The primary purpose of James Mcgroarty Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Gail B Mcgroarty (private). It impounds the Mears Fork.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 223 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 70 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 2001, the structure is relatively new.
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 01/28/2025.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Guilford |
| River/Stream | Mears Fork |
| Coordinates | 36.22260, -79.79670 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 223 ft |
| Year Completed | 2001 (25 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 37 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Gail B Mcgroarty |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05528 |
| Federal ID | NC05528 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |