Mcdonald Dam
Mcdonald Dam is an earth dam located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Mcdonald Dam
The primary purpose of Mcdonald Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City Of Charlotte Storm Water Services (local government). It impounds the Ut To Irwin Creek.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 265 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/24/2024.
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 | Mecklenburg |
| River/Stream | Ut To Irwin Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.29260, -80.81310 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 265 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Charlotte Storm Water Services |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05988 |
| Federal ID | NC05988 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |