Palmetto Lake Upper Dam is an earth dam located in Polk County, North Carolina. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 38 ft38 ft tall and 253 ft long, taller than 84% 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 Upper Dam
The primary purpose of Palmetto Lake Upper 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 38 feet tall and stretches 253 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 110 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 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 03/14/2023.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 84% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Polk |
| Nearest City | Pea Ridge |
| River/Stream | Cove Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.26120, -82.30690 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 253 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Boy Scouts of America, Palmetto Area Council |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/14/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01350 |
| Federal ID | NC01350 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |