Dams in Polk County, North Carolina
32Total Dams
13High Hazard
11Significant
Dam Safety in Polk County, North Carolina
Polk County has 32 dams tracked in the National Inventory of Dams. Of these, 13 are classified as high hazard — meaning failure would probably cause loss of human life. Another 11 carry a significant hazard classification. Currently, 7 dams have a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory.
The average dam in Polk County is 44 years old. The most common purpose is recreation. The tallest dam is Turner Shoals Dam at 87 ft.
Explore more: Oldest dams in North Carolina · Tallest dams · High risk dams · Largest reservoirs
| Dam | Hazard | Condition | Height (ft) | Purpose | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turner Shoals Dam | High | Poor | 87 | Hydroelectric | 1925 |
| Robin Smith Dam | High | Fair | 50 | Recreation | 2002 |
| Melrose Mountain Dam #2 | High | Fair | 47 | Recreation | 1972 |
| Melrose Mountain Dam #1 | High | Fair | 45 | Recreation | 1972 |
| Derbyshire Dam | High | Fair | 38 | Recreation | |
| Mahler's Pond Dam | High | Fair | 30 | Recreation | 1965 |
| Warrior Mountain Dam | High | Poor | 22 | Recreation | |
| White Oak Mtn. Dam #1 | High | Satisfactory | 22 | Recreation | |
| White Oak Mtn. Dam #2 | High | Poor | 21 | Recreation | |
| Old Tryon Water Suppy Dam | High | Poor | 20 | Water Supply | |
| White Oak Mtn. Dam #4 | High | Fair | 20 | Recreation | |
| Cade Dam | High | Poor | 0 | Other | |
| Woodpecker Lane Dam | High | Poor | 0 | Other | |
| Grassy Knob Acres Dam | Significant | Fair | 53 | Recreation | |
| English Heifer Cove Dam | Significant | Fair | 40 | Recreation | |
| Palmetto Lake Upper Dam | Significant | Fair | 38 | Recreation | |
| Palmetto Lake Lower Dam | Significant | Poor | 35 | Recreation | |
| Gamblin Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 31 | Recreation | |
| Kay Thompson Dam | Significant | Fair | 29 | Recreation | |
| Pavillon Dam | Significant | Fair | 28 | Recreation | 1998 |
| Golden Citrus Upper Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 26 | Recreation | |
| Deering Milliken Dam | Significant | Not Rated | 24 | Water Supply | |
| Hooper Creek Dam | Significant | Fair | 24 | Recreation | 1965 |
| Jordan Dam | Significant | Fair | 21 | Recreation | 1979 |
| Bright's Creek Wet Weather Detention Pond Dam | Low | Fair | 30 | Other | 2007 |
| Metcalf Dam | Low | Fair | 26 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1984 |
| Holmberg Dam | Low | Fair | 26 | Recreation | 1981 |
| Tryon Estates Dam | Low | Fair | 26 | Recreation | 1993 |
| Thompson Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 25 | Recreation | |
| Wayne Horne Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 25 | Recreation | 1993 |
| Max S. Crowe Dam | Low | Fair | 25 | Recreation | 2004 |
| Little Warrior Mountain Dam | Low | Fair | 0 | Other |