Upper Zoo Dam is an earth dam located in Randolph County, North Carolina, built in 1992. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 560 ft long, taller than 62% 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 Upper Zoo Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Zoo Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nc Zoological Authority (state). It impounds the Panther Creek.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 560 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 143 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 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. 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 03/17/2020.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Randolph |
| River/Stream | Panther Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.62660, -79.76410 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 560 ft |
| Year Completed | 1992 (34 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 143 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 143 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 113 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 410 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Nc Zoological Authority |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/17/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05226 |
| Federal ID | NC05226 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |