Bullard and Patterson Dam is an earth dam located in Wake County, North Carolina. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 8 ft8 ft tall and 160 ft long. 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 Bullard and Patterson Dam
The primary purpose of Bullard and Patterson Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Progress Residential (private). It impounds the Walnut Creek near Raleigh.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 160 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 0 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 2 acre-feet.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/13/2025.
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 | Wake |
| Nearest City | Raleigh |
| River/Stream | Walnut Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.75650, -78.54920 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 160 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 0 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Progress Residential |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC04504 |
| Federal ID | NC04504 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |