Leaking dam on Haw forces some access closures

Alamance County closed four Haw River accesses over the weekend after being told of a leak at the base of the Ossipee Dam.

The leak was reported Saturday, June 22, according to the county's website.

Glen Raven Mills, Altamahaw Ossipee Fire Department and the Alamance County Emergency Management Office are monitoring conditions at the dam, the county said.

If the dam were to fail, the county expects little damage to property.

River accesses have been closed at these locations: Altamahaw, Shallow Ford Natural Area, Great Bend Park, and Glencoe . The parks will remain open. Brooks Bridge access in Guilford County also is closed. More information about the accesses can be found at thehaw.org.

The 15-foot dam was built in 1880 to replace a 4.5-foot one, according to Mark Chilton's "An Historical Atlas of the Haw River." It has gone by several names: Ossipee, Altamahaw, Glen Raven Mills, Glen Raven, Glen Raven Altamahaw.

See map: https://tinyurl.com/ossipee-map

Bob Brueckner

Conservation Chair