Oglebay Norton Dam dam
Oglebay Norton Dam
The Oglebay Norton Dam, also known as the Franklin Industrial Minerals Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Cleveland, North Carolina. Completed in 1956, this Earth-type dam stands at a structural height of 28 feet and serves primarily for tailings purposes. With a hydraulic height of 23 feet and a length of 300 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 34 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 2.5 acres.
Despite being state-regulated with inspections conducted regularly, the Oglebay Norton Dam has been assessed to have a low hazard potential and fair condition as of the last assessment in 2015. The dam is situated on the Dixon Branch-Tr river system and falls under the jurisdiction of the Charleston District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. With no associated structures or outlet gates, the dam's main purpose is to manage tailings for the industrial operations in the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Oglebay Norton Dam offers a glimpse into the engineering and environmental management practices surrounding dam infrastructure. While it may not be a significant storage or discharge structure, its role in mitigating potential hazards and maintaining fair conditions underscores the importance of proper monitoring and maintenance for all dams, regardless of size or purpose. The dam's location in a private industrial setting adds a layer of complexity to its regulatory oversight, making it a unique case study for those interested in the intersection of private ownership and public safety in water resource management.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Oglebay Norton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Long Creek Near Bessemer City | 4 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Blacksburg | 321 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Gaffney | 1,890 cfs | → |
| Broad River Below Cherokee Falls | 576 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Laboratory | 10 cfs | → |
| South Fork Catawba River At Lowell | 187 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oglebay Norton Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Cleveland County
- John H. Moss Lake Recreation Park
- First Broad River Trail Shelby
- Wilkinson Boulevard Belmont
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
Campgrounds
- Hounds Gateway Campground
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Garner Creek
- Garner Creek Backcountry Campsite
- John H. Moss Lake City Campground
- Shelby Mission Camp
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Benfield Creek
- Pittman Lake
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Macedonia Lake
Track Oglebay Norton Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Oglebay Norton Dam
Where does the data for Oglebay Norton Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Oglebay Norton Dam.