Walters Dam
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hydroelectric power |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Founder | Carolina Power & Light |
| Fate | Completed by Phoenix Electric Co. |
| Headquarters | Haywood County , United States |
Area served | North Carolina, United States |
| Products | Hydroelectric power (112 MW capacity) |
| Owner | Duke Energy |
| Parent | Duke Energy |
Walters Dam, also referred to as the Waterville Dam, is a concrete arch hydroelectric dam situated in Haywood County, North Carolina within the Great Smoky Mountains. The structure measures high and stretches in length, creating a reservoir on the Pigeon River close to Interstate 40. Positioned downstream, the brick power station is linked by a tunnel of the same length that extends northward toward the facility near the state border.
The dam's construction commenced in 1927 and concluded in 1930, originally started by Carolina Power & Light and completed by its subsidiary Phoenix Electric Co. To support operations at the Walters Plant, which utilizes the upstream Waterville Lake reservoir, the company founded the Waterville community at the northern foot of the mountain.
In 1980, Walters Dam was recognized as a North Carolina Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. As of 2024, it continues to function under Duke Energy with an installed capacity of 112 MW.
On September 27, 2024, during intense rainfall linked to Hurricane Helene, authorities in nearby Cocke County, Tennessee erroneously announced a total failure of the dam. This misinformation led to evacuation orders for downstream areas including Newport, Tennessee. Duke Energy subsequently clarified that these claims were inaccurate.