Kay Thompson 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 · 29 ft29 ft tall and 286 ft long, taller than 65% 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 Kay Thompson Dam
The primary purpose of Kay Thompson Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Robert E Gilbert (private). It impounds the Ut to Walnut Creek near Cliffside.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 286 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 35 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. The most recent inspection on record was 02/28/2023.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Polk |
| Nearest City | Cliffside |
| River/Stream | Ut to Walnut Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.36810, -82.17310 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 286 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 35 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 35 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Robert E Gilbert |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/28/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC01351 |
| Federal ID | NC01351 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |