Gillespie Dam is an earth dam located in Surry County, North Carolina, built in 1978. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 27 ft27 ft tall and 256 ft long, taller than 59% 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 Gillespie Dam
The primary purpose of Gillespie Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Michael Z Gillispie (private). It impounds the Fisher River near Dobson.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 256 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 22 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 12/23/2024.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Surry |
| Nearest City | Dobson |
| River/Stream | Fisher River |
| Coordinates | 36.40560, -80.73350 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 256 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 22 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 22 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 155 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Michael Z Gillispie |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 12/23/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC04260 |
| Federal ID | NC04260 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |