Palmisano Dam
Palmisano Dam is an earth dam located in Macon County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Palmisano Dam
The primary purpose of Palmisano Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Kings Cove, Llc (private). It impounds the S. Fork Skeenah Creek near Prentiss.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 170 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/28/2025.
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 | Macon |
| Nearest City | Prentiss |
| River/Stream | S. Fork Skeenah Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.11060, -83.41880 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 170 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Kings Cove, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC03334 |
| Federal ID | NC03334 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |