Mayo Lake Dam
Mayo Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Person County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Mayo Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Mayo Lake Dam 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 Duke Energy Corporation (public utility). It impounds the Mayo Creek.
The dam stands 100 feet tall and stretches 2,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,800 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 142,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/16/2024.
At 100 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Person |
| River/Stream | Mayo Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.53670, -78.87600 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 100 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,600 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 142,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 142,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 88,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,800 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 66,100 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Duke Energy Corporation |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC06002 |
| Federal ID | NC06002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |