Lott Dam
Lott Dam is an earth dam located in Swain County, North Carolina, built in 1980. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lott Dam
The primary purpose of Lott Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by E&h Investment Properties, Llc (private). It impounds the Big Creek near Wesser.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 0 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 3 acre-feet. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 years old.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/26/2016. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Swain |
| Nearest City | Wesser |
| River/Stream | Big Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.30570, -83.60350 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 0 acres |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | E&H Investment Properties, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/26/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05817 |
| Federal ID | NC05817 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |