Harris Lake Dam #1
Harris Lake Dam #1 is an earth dam located in Moore County, North Carolina, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Harris Lake Dam #1
The primary purpose of Harris Lake Dam #1 is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Patricia A Harris (private). It impounds the Mill Creek near Zion Grove.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 840 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 110 acre-feet. Completed in 1955, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/30/2024.
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 | Moore |
| Nearest City | Zion Grove |
| River/Stream | Mill Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.30790, -79.69520 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 840 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 92 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Max Discharge | 40 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Patricia A Harris |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/30/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00764 |
| Federal ID | NC00764 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |