Poston Park Dam
Poston Park Dam is an earth dam located in Gaston County, North Carolina, built in 2010. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Poston Park Dam
The primary purpose of Poston Park Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Gaston County Department Of Parks & Recreation (local government). It impounds the Houser Branch.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 633 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 325 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 2010, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/08/2024.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% 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 | Gaston |
| River/Stream | Houser Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.28320, -81.10650 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 633 ft |
| Year Completed | 2010 (16 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 325 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 325 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 142 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,091 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Gaston County Department of Parks & Recreation |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/08/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC06046 |
| Federal ID | NC06046 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |