Gaston - North Saddle
Gaston - North Saddle is a rockfill dam located in Northampton County, North Carolina, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Gaston - North Saddle
The primary purpose of Gaston - North Saddle is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Virginia Electric And Power Company (public utility). It impounds the Roanoke near Roanoke Rapids.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20,300 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 513,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8,340 square miles. Completed in 1963, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/02/2026.
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 | Northampton |
| Nearest City | Roanoke Rapids |
| River/Stream | Roanoke |
| Coordinates | 36.50790, -77.81110 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 513,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 513,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 450,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20,300 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8,340 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Virginia Electric and Power Company |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/02/2026 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC06530 |
| Federal ID | NC00826S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |