Dams in Rutherford County, North Carolina
59Total Dams
23High Hazard
18Significant
Dam Safety in Rutherford County, North Carolina
Rutherford County has 59 dams tracked in the National Inventory of Dams. Of these, 23 are classified as high hazard — meaning failure would probably cause loss of human life. Another 18 carry a significant hazard classification. Currently, 15 dams have a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory.
The average dam in Rutherford County is 52 years old. The most common purpose is recreation. The tallest dam is Lake Lure Dam at 124 ft.
Explore more: Oldest dams in North Carolina · Tallest dams · High risk dams · Largest reservoirs
| Dam | Hazard | Condition | Height (ft) | Purpose | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Lure Dam | High | Fair | 124 | Hydroelectric | 1927 |
| Cliffside Inactive Ash Basin #5 Main Dam | High | Unsatisfactory | 97 | Other | 1972 |
| 2nd Broad River Watershed Dam #16 | High | Fair | 64 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1979 |
| Bald Mountain Lake Dam | High | Fair | 60 | Recreation | 1960 |
| 2nd Broad River Watershed Dam #2 | High | Satisfactory | 56 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1995 |
| 2nd Broad River Watershed Dam #23 | High | Satisfactory | 54 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1979 |
| 2nd Broad River Watershed Dam #22 | High | Satisfactory | 54 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1978 |
| Murray Hilton Lake Dam | High | Satisfactory | 50 | Recreation | 1963 |
| Cliffside Inactive Ash Basin #5 Saddle Dam | High | Unsatisfactory | 42 | Other | 1972 |
| Shumont Estates Dam | High | Fair | 41 | Recreation | 1990 |
| Boy Scouts Dairy Barn Dam | High | Fair | 40 | Recreation | |
| 2nd Broad River Watershed Dam #13 | High | Fair | 39 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1990 |
| Laurel Lake Dam | High | Poor | 36 | Recreation | 2002 |
| 2nd Broad River Watershed Dam #14 | High | Fair | 34 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1982 |
| Brooks Lake Dam | High | Poor | 32 | Recreation | 1950 |
| Isothermal College Dam | High | Fair | 31 | Recreation | 1969 |
| Willow Lakes Estates Dam | High | Poor | 29 | Recreation | |
| Nelson Park Dam | High | Poor | 27 | Recreation | 1981 |
| Pine Knoll Fish Pond Dam | High | Fair | 26 | Recreation | |
| Sunnyside Lake Dam | High | Poor | 24 | Recreation | 1950 |
| Camp Occoneechee Dam | High | Poor | 24 | Recreation | 1927 |
| John W. Bennett Dam | High | Fair | 22 | Recreation | |
| Crabtree Lake Dam | High | Unsatisfactory | 20 | Other | |
| Yelton Dam | Significant | Fair | 72 | Recreation | |
| Bsa Piedmont Council Dam #2 | Significant | Fair | 55 | Recreation | 1981 |
| Hickory Nut Lower Dam | Significant | Fair | 48 | Recreation | 1974 |
| Hennessee Dam | Significant | Fair | 44 | Recreation | 1976 |
| Cherry Ridge Dam | Significant | Fair | 40 | Recreation | 1999 |
| 2nd Broad River Watershed Dam #4 | Significant | Fair | 39 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1987 |
| Forest Lake Dam | Significant | Poor | 38 | Recreation | 1963 |
| Matt Brooks Lake Dam | Significant | Not Rated | 32 | Recreation | 1965 |
| Fraternal Order Of Eagles Dam | Significant | Poor | 31 | Recreation | 1945 |
| Owen Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 29 | Recreation | |
| W. W. Jones Dam | Significant | Poor | 28 | Recreation | |
| Burlington Mills Dam | Significant | 26 | Hydroelectric | 1900 | |
| Shuvart Dam | Significant | Fair | 26 | Recreation | |
| Rutherfordton Wastewater Lagoon Upper Dam | Significant | Poor | 21 | Other | |
| Rutherfordton Wastewater Lagoon Lower Dam | Significant | Fair | 21 | Other | |
| Morning Star Lake Dam | Significant | Fair | 18 | Recreation | |
| Winterle Road Dam | Significant | 0 | Debris Control | ||
| Rutherford County Boe Dam | Significant | 0 | Flood Risk Reduction | ||
| Hickory Nut Upper Dam | Low | Fair | 55 | Recreation | |
| 2nd Broad River Watershed Dam #11-19 | Low | Fair | 38 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1994 |
| 2nd Broad River Watershed Dam #11-24b | Low | Fair | 35 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1994 |
| Baldwin Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 32 | Recreation | |
| Bsa Piedmont Council Dam | Low | Fair | 31 | Recreation | 2000 |
| Cone Mills Dam | Low | Unsatisfactory | 31 | Hydroelectric | 1900 |
| Gordon Scott Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 30 | Recreation | 1984 |
| 2nd Broad River Watershed Dam #11-25 | Low | Fair | 30 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1994 |
| Keith Carver Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 29 | Recreation | 1990 |
| Hoyle Edgerton Dam | Low | Fair | 29 | Recreation | 1999 |
| Donald Bell Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 28 | Recreation | |
| O. A. Fish Dam | Low | Fair | 28 | Recreation | |
| Woodrow Fountain Dam | Low | Fair | 27 | Recreation | |
| Craig Mcdowell Farm Pond Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 27 | Irrigation | 2009 |
| B. E. Holland Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 26 | Recreation | 1980 |
| Marshall Cooley Lower Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 25 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1991 |
| Marshall Cooley Upper Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 25 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1991 |
| Sheriff Huskey Dam | Low | Poor | 25 | Recreation | 1969 |