Richardson Lake Dam
Richardson Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Guilford County, North Carolina, built in 1944. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Richardson Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Richardson Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Perl Family, Llc (private). It impounds the Reedy Fork Creek near Ossipee.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 325 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 137 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1944, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 01/31/2024.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Guilford |
| Nearest City | Ossipee |
| River/Stream | Reedy Fork Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.17980, -79.84140 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 325 ft |
| Year Completed | 1944 (82 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 137 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 137 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 105 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 66 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Perl Family, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00613 |
| Federal ID | NC00613 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |