Swansgate Dam #1

About Swansgate Dam #1

The primary purpose of Swansgate Dam #1 is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by Keith Hart (private). It impounds the Rich Fork Creek near Lexington.

The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 115 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 0 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 3 acre-feet. Completed in 1983, the structure is 43 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 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 07/25/2024.

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.

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