Headwaters Dam
Headwaters Dam is an earth dam located in Ashe County, North Carolina, built in 2001. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Headwaters Dam
The primary purpose of Headwaters Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Headwaters Owners Association, Inc. (private).
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 440 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 2001, the structure is relatively new.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/02/2024.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Ashe |
| Coordinates | 36.37070, -81.62520 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 440 ft |
| Year Completed | 2001 (25 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 78 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 133 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Headwaters Owners Association, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/02/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05542 |
| Federal ID | NC05542 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |