Panther Lake Dam
Panther Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina, built in 1920. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Panther Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Panther Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Samuel H Stephenson (private). It impounds the Black Creek near Smithfield.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 82 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 253 acre-feet. Completed in 1920, the structure is over a century 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/08/2024.
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 | Wake |
| Nearest City | Smithfield |
| River/Stream | Black Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.56590, -78.69230 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 253 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 253 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 211 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 82 acres |
| Max Discharge | 231 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Samuel H Stephenson |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/08/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00876 |
| Federal ID | NC00876 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |