Palmetto Lake Lower Dam is an earth dam located in Polk County, North Carolina. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 220 ft long, taller than 80% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Palmetto Lake Lower Dam
The primary purpose of Palmetto Lake Lower Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Boy Scouts of America, Palmetto Area Council (private). It impounds the Cove Creek near Pea Ridge.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 220 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 70 acre-feet.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/14/2023.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Polk |
| Nearest City | Pea Ridge |
| River/Stream | Cove Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.26570, -82.30150 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 220 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Boy Scouts of America, Palmetto Area Council |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/14/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00210 |
| Federal ID | NC00210 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |