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List of dam removals in North Carolina

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The 2010 removal of the Dillsboro Dam from the Tuckasegee River in Dillsboro

This is a list of dams in North Carolina that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.

Completed removals

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Dam[1] Height Year removed Location Watercourse Watershed Notes
Lower Big Hungry Dam 40 ft (12 m) 2015 Henderson
35°17′35″N 82°21′21″W / 35.2931°N 82.3558°W / 35.2931; -82.3558 (Lower Big Hungry Dam)
Hungry River Broad River Municipal hydroelectric dam.
Buckhorn Dam 2010 Sanford
35°31′53″N 78°58′32″W / 35.5314°N 78.9755°W / 35.5314; -78.9755 (Buckhorn Dam)
Buckhorn Creek Cape Fear River Hydropower dam owned by Progress Energy Inc.
Harnett Metals Dam 16 ft (4.9 m) 1999 Harnett County
35°13′17″N 78°56′43″W / 35.2215°N 78.9453°W / 35.2215; -78.9453 (Harnett Metals Dam)
Tributary to Jumping Run Creek Recreation dam.
Phillips Creek Dam 19 ft (5.8 m) 2014 Bladen County
34°44′20″N 78°45′06″W / 34.7389°N 78.7516°W / 34.7389; -78.7516 (Phillips Creek Dam)
Philips Creek Recreation dam.
Windermere Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) Mecklenburg County
35°05′28″N 80°48′47″W / 35.091°N 80.813°W / 35.091; -80.813 (Windermere Dam)
Tributary to McAlpine Creek Catawba River Recreation dam.
Shuford Mill Dam 35 ft (11 m) 2016 Brookford
35°42′05″N 81°20′51″W / 35.7013°N 81.3474°W / 35.7013; -81.3474 (Shuford Mill Dam)
Henry Fork River
Rowland Lake Lower Dam (Ray Durham Lower Dam) 26 ft (7.9 m) 2004 Gaston County
35°20′30″N 81°06′56″W / 35.3417°N 81.1156°W / 35.3417; -81.1156 (Rowland Lake Lower Dam (Ray Durham Lower Dam))
Tributary to Mauney Creek Recreation dam.
Walker Pond Dam 16 ft (4.9 m) 2006 Burke County
35°42′57″N 81°43′33″W / 35.7157°N 81.7258°W / 35.7157; -81.7258 (Walker Pond Dam)
Tributary to Bailey Fork Recreation dam.
Lady Marion Dam 26 ft (7.9 m) 2019 McDowell County
35°41′38″N 82°01′32″W / 35.6939°N 82.0256°W / 35.6939; -82.0256 (Lady Marion Dam)
Garden Creek Recreation dam.
Carbonton Dam 2005 Carbonton
35°31′11″N 79°20′50″W / 35.5198°N 79.3471°W / 35.5198; -79.3471 (Carbonton Dam)
Deep River Deep River
Deep River Farm Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) Guilford County
36°02′13″N 79°57′08″W / 36.0369°N 79.9521°W / 36.0369; -79.9521 (Deep River Farm Dam)
Tributary to East Fork Deep River Recreation dam.
Hoosier Dam (Reeves Lake Dam) 25 ft (7.6 m) 2018 Chatham County
35°38′08″N 79°12′40″W / 35.6356°N 79.2111°W / 35.6356; -79.2111 (Hoosier Dam (Reeves Lake Dam))
Rocky River Hydropower dam owned by Rocky River Hydro.
Rush Mountain Dam 15 ft (4.6 m) 2017 Henderson
35°14′45″N 82°28′13″W / 35.2459°N 82.4702°W / 35.2459; -82.4702 (Rush Mountain Dam)
Greer Creek French Broad River Amenity pond.
Lake Craig Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 1952 Buncombe County
35°34′55″N 82°29′36″W / 35.5819°N 82.4932°W / 35.5819; -82.4932 (Lake Craig Dam)
Swannanoa River Recreation dam.
Granite Mill Dam 2 ft (0.61 m) 2016 Haw River
36°05′26″N 79°22′10″W / 36.0905°N 79.3695°W / 36.0905; -79.3695 (Granite Mill Dam)
Haw River Haw River Mill dam.
Granite Mill Dam 2 2016 Haw River
36°05′26″N 79°22′10″W / 36.0905°N 79.3695°W / 36.0905; -79.3695 (Granite Mill Dam 2)
Granite Mill Dam 3 2016 Haw River
36°05′26″N 79°22′10″W / 36.0905°N 79.3695°W / 36.0905; -79.3695 (Granite Mill Dam 3)
Upper Swepsonville Dam (Puryear Dam) 3.5 ft (1.1 m) 2013 Swepsonville
36°01′26″N 79°21′59″W / 36.0239°N 79.3663°W / 36.0239; -79.3663 (Upper Swepsonville Dam (Puryear Dam))
Gristmill and sawmill dam owned by the Town of Swepsonville at the time of its removal.
White Oak Lake Dam 21 ft (6.4 m) Guilford County
36°06′31″N 79°46′02″W / 36.1085°N 79.7671°W / 36.1085; -79.7671 (White Oak Lake Dam)
Tributary to North Buffalo Creek Water supply dam.
A D W Dam 11 ft (3.4 m) Guilford County
36°02′42″N 79°49′59″W / 36.045°N 79.833°W / 36.045; -79.833 (A D W Dam)
Tributary to South Buffalo Creek Recreation dam.
Shuler Creek Dam 4 ft (1.2 m) 2020 Cherokee County
35°10′52″N 84°17′27″W / 35.181°N 84.2908°W / 35.181; -84.2908 (Shuler Creek Dam)
Shuler Creek Hiwassee River Owned by the U.S. Forest Service.
Little Buck Creek Pond Dam 30 ft (9.1 m) 2016 Clay County
35°03′38″N 83°34′18″W / 35.0605°N 83.5718°W / 35.0605; -83.5718 (Little Buck Creek Pond Dam)
Little Tennessee River Little Tennessee River Mill dam.
Forney Ridge Dam 1988 Great Smoky Mountains National Park
35°31′16″N 83°32′34″W / 35.5211°N 83.5429°W / 35.5211; -83.5429 (Forney Ridge Dam)
Forney Creek
Dillsboro Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 2010 Dillsboro
35°21′59″N 83°15′00″W / 35.3665°N 83.25°W / 35.3665; -83.25 (Dillsboro Dam)
Tuckasegee River Hydropower dam owned by Duke Energy.
Santeetlah Fish Barrier 8 ft (2.4 m) 2016 Graham County
35°22′00″N 83°54′55″W / 35.3668°N 83.9153°W / 35.3668; -83.9153 (Santeetlah Fish Barrier)
Santeetlah Creek Rough fish barrier.
Eno Dam 2007 Orange County
36°02′50″N 79°00′39″W / 36.0473°N 79.0109°W / 36.0473; -79.0109 (Eno Dam)
Eno River Neuse River
Ailey Young Park Dam 2019 Wake Forest
35°58′51″N 78°29′46″W / 35.9808°N 78.4961°W / 35.9808; -78.4961 (Ailey Young Park Dam)
Tributary to Dunn Creek Farm pond dam owned by the Town of Wake Forest.
Cherry Hospital Dam 7 ft (2.1 m) 1998 Goldsboro
35°23′30″N 78°01′34″W / 35.3916°N 78.0261°W / 35.3916; -78.0261 (Cherry Hospital Dam)
Little River
Lowell Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2006 Kenly
35°33′58″N 78°09′37″W / 35.566°N 78.1602°W / 35.566; -78.1602 (Lowell Dam)
Mill dam.
Rains Mill Dam 1999 Princeton
35°28′56″N 78°08′37″W / 35.4822°N 78.1437°W / 35.4822; -78.1437 (Rains Mill Dam)
Temple Sloan Dam (Whitley Dam) 19 ft (5.8 m) 2002 Wake County
35°46′40″N 78°26′28″W / 35.7777°N 78.4411°W / 35.7777; -78.4411 (Temple Sloan Dam (Whitley Dam))
Marks Creek Recreation dam.
Crantock Mill Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2008 Smithfield
35°31′22″N 78°28′00″W / 35.5227°N 78.4668°W / 35.5227; -78.4668 (Crantock Mill Dam)
Middle Creek
Milburnie Dam 15 ft (4.6 m) 2017 Wake County
35°48′01″N 78°32′23″W / 35.8004°N 78.5396°W / 35.8004; -78.5396 (Milburnie Dam)
Neuse River Saw mill, gristmill, papermill, and hydropower dam.
Quaker Neck Dam 7 ft (2.1 m) 1998 Wayne County
35°22′01″N 78°04′59″W / 35.367°N 78.083°W / 35.367; -78.083 (Quaker Neck Dam)
Dam provided cooling water for a steam plant. Owned by the Carolina Power & Light Company.
Payne Branch Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 2020 Watauga County
36°11′03″N 81°39′08″W / 36.1841°N 81.6523°W / 36.1841; -81.6523 (Payne Branch Dam)
Middle Fork South Fork New River New River Hydropower dam owned by New River Light & Power.
Cane River Dam 45 ft (14 m) 2016 Burnsville
35°54′14″N 82°19′55″W / 35.9039°N 82.3319°W / 35.9039; -82.3319 (Cane River Dam)
Cane River Nolichucky River Hydropower dam.
Plumtree Dam 1993 Avery County
36°01′33″N 82°00′34″W / 36.0258°N 82.0095°W / 36.0258; -82.0095 (Plumtree Dam)
North Toe River
Altapass Dam 2010 Pisgah National Forest
35°53′19″N 81°59′11″W / 35.8886°N 81.9863°W / 35.8886; -81.9863 (Altapass Dam)
Roses Creek
Spruce Pine Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2009 Spruce Pine
35°55′23″N 82°05′19″W / 35.923°N 82.0887°W / 35.923; -82.0887 (Spruce Pine Dam)
Toe River Power generation.
Old Troy Dam No. 2 2013 Montgomery County
35°23′15″N 79°52′05″W / 35.3874°N 79.8681°W / 35.3874; -79.8681 (Old Troy Dam No. 2)
Densons Creek Pee Dee River Recreation dam.
Troy Dam No. 1 6 ft (1.8 m) 2012 Troy
35°23′14″N 79°52′05″W / 35.3872°N 79.868°W / 35.3872; -79.868 (Troy Dam No. 1)
Densons Creek Water supply dam.
Chandlers Dynamo Dam 5 ft (1.5 m) 2012 Troy
35°22′05″N 79°50′17″W / 35.368°N 79.838°W / 35.368; -79.838 (Chandlers Dynamo Dam)
Little River
Smitherman's Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 2013 Troy
35°20′37″N 79°51′11″W / 35.3437°N 79.853°W / 35.3437; -79.853 (Smitherman's Dam)
Cotton mill dam owned by the Town of Troy a prior to its removal.
Baucom Lake Dam 15 ft (4.6 m) Union County
35°02′28″N 80°30′15″W / 35.041°N 80.5043°W / 35.041; -80.5043 (Baucom Lake Dam)
Flag Branch Recreation dam.
Freedom Park Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2002 Norwood
35°11′38″N 80°06′11″W / 35.194°N 80.1031°W / 35.194; -80.1031 (Freedom Park Dam)
Little Sugar Creek
Steele's Mill Dam 15 ft (4.6 m) 2009 Richmond County
34°55′10″N 79°49′44″W / 34.9195°N 79.8288°W / 34.9195; -79.8288 (Steele's Mill Dam)
Hitchcock Creek Hydropower dam owned by the City of Rockingham.
Yellow Jacket Lake Dam 26 ft (7.9 m) Wilkes County
36°05′38″N 81°11′42″W / 36.094°N 81.195°W / 36.094; -81.195 (Yellow Jacket Lake Dam)
Moravian Creek Recreation dam.
Baker Dam (Miller Dam) 19 ft (5.8 m) Forsyth County
36°06′54″N 80°07′48″W / 36.115°N 80.13°W / 36.115; -80.13 (Baker Dam (Miller Dam))
Tributary to Smith Creek Recreation dam.
Watts Lake Dam 31 ft (9.4 m) 1997 Alexander County
36°01′44″N 81°08′00″W / 36.0289°N 81.1334°W / 36.0289; -81.1334 (Watts Lake Dam)
Tributary to South Yadkin River Recreation dam.
Lassiter Mill Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 2013 Randolph County
35°33′52″N 79°58′23″W / 35.5644°N 79.973°W / 35.5644; -79.973 (Lassiter Mill Dam)
Uwharrie River Gristmill dam
Hutchens Dam 23 ft (7.0 m) 1998 Randolph County
35°52′26″N 80°00′07″W / 35.874°N 80.002°W / 35.874; -80.002 (Hutchens Dam)
Tributary to Uwharrie River Recreation dam.
Ash Bear Pen Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 1990 Blowing Rock
36°07′48″N 81°46′04″W / 36.1299°N 81.7679°W / 36.1299; -81.7679 (Ash Bear Pen Dam)
Cold Prong Creek Watauga River
Yonahlossee Dam Watauga County
36°10′18″N 81°42′58″W / 36.1716°N 81.7161°W / 36.1716; -81.7161 (Yonahlossee Dam)
Lance Creek
Ward Mill Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 2021 Watauga County
36°14′29″N 81°49′49″W / 36.2413°N 81.8304°W / 36.2413; -81.8304 (Ward Mill Dam)
Watauga River Hydropower dam.
Unnamed dam 3 ft (0.91 m) 2009 Watauga County Sims Creek Located near the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Umstead Dam 2016 Cape Fear Basin

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rivers, American (13 February 2023). "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.5234068.v10. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
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