# List of dam removals in North Carolina

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

## Completed removals

| Dam | 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 | Cape Fear River | 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 | Cape Fear River | 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 | Catawba 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 | Catawba River | 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 | Catawba River | 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 | Catawba River | 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 | 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 | Deep 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 | French Broad 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) | Haw River | Haw River | |
| 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) | Haw River | Haw River | |
| 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)) | Haw River | Haw River | 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 | Haw River | 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 | Haw River | 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 | Little Tennessee River | |
| 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 | Little Tennessee 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 | Little Tennessee River | 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 | Neuse River | 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 | Neuse 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) | Little River | Neuse River | 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) | Little River | Neuse River | |
| 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 | Neuse River | 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 | Neuse River | |
| 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 | 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) | Neuse River | Neuse River | 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 | Nolichucky 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 | Nolichucky River | |
| 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 | Nolichucky 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 | Pee Dee River | 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 | Pee Dee 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) | Little River | Pee Dee River | 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 | Pee Dee River | 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 | Pee Dee River | |
| 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 | Pee Dee River | 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 | Pee Dee River | 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 | Pee Dee River | 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 | Pee Dee 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 | Pee Dee 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 | Pee Dee 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 | Watauga River | |
| 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 | Watauga River | Hydropower dam. |
| Unnamed dam | 3 ft (0.91 m) | 2009 | Watauga County | Sims Creek | Watauga River | Located near the Blue Ridge Parkway. |
| Umstead Dam | | 2016 | | Cape Fear Basin | | |
Download coordinates as:
* KML
* GPX (all coordinates)
* GPX (primary coordinates)
* GPX (secondary coordinates)