Mcelwee Dam
Mcelwee Dam is an earth dam located in Wilkes County, North Carolina, built in 1999. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Mcelwee Dam
The primary purpose of Mcelwee Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by William H Mcelwee (private). It impounds the Ut To Hunting Creek near Wilkesboro.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16 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 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. The most recent inspection on record was 01/06/2025.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Wilkes |
| Nearest City | Wilkesboro |
| River/Stream | Ut To Hunting Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.07430, -81.12280 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1999 (27 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | William H McElwee |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 01/06/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05533 |
| Federal ID | NC05533 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |