Town Fork Creek Watershed Dam #1-b
Town Fork Creek Watershed Dam #1-b is an earth dam located in Forsyth County, North Carolina, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Town Fork Creek Watershed Dam #1-b
The primary purpose of Town Fork Creek Watershed Dam #1-b is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Elizabeth J Venable (private). It impounds the Lick Creek near Walnut Cove.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 570 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 271 acre-feet. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/25/2024.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The North Carolina dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Forsyth |
| Nearest City | Walnut Cove |
| River/Stream | Lick Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.24050, -80.12550 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 570 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 271 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 271 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 123 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Elizabeth J Venable |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/25/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00422 |
| Federal ID | NC00422 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |