Richard Allen Dam is an earth dam located in Cherokee County, North Carolina, built in 1981. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 125 ft long, taller than 50% 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 Richard Allen Dam
The primary purpose of Richard Allen Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Garcher of Vero Beach, Inc. (private). It impounds the Laurel Branch near Reliance, Tn.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 125 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 25 acre-feet. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 years old.
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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. The most recent inspection on record was 05/12/2022.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Cherokee |
| Nearest City | Reliance, Tn |
| River/Stream | Laurel Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.14410, -84.29710 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 125 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Garcher of Vero Beach, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/12/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC02107 |
| Federal ID | NC02107 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |