Tom Harrison Memorial Dam
Tom Harrison Memorial Dam is an earth dam located in Wayne County, North Carolina, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Tom Harrison Memorial Dam
The primary purpose of Tom Harrison Memorial Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Village Of Walnut Creek (private). It impounds the Walnut Creek near Seven Springs.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 1,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 172 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/29/2025.
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 | Wayne |
| Nearest City | Seven Springs |
| River/Stream | Walnut Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.30360, -77.86510 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,070 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 172 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Village of Walnut Creek |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/29/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00937 |
| Federal ID | NC00937 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |