Ravenel Lake Dam dam
Ravenel Lake Dam
Ravenel Lake Dam, also known as Cullasaja Club Dam, is a private structure located in Macon County, North Carolina. Completed in 1965, this concrete dam stands at a structural height of 18.5 feet and serves primarily for recreation purposes. Situated on the Cullasaja River, the dam has a hydraulic height of 14.5 feet and a normal storage capacity of 110 acre-feet.
Owned privately, Ravenel Lake Dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. The dam has been deemed to have a significant hazard potential, but its condition was assessed as satisfactory during the last inspection in February 2017. With a storage capacity of 185 acre-feet and a surface area of 18 acres, the dam contributes to the local water resource management and provides recreational opportunities for the community in Highlands.
Despite its private ownership, Ravenel Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and recreation in Macon County. Situated within the Savannah District, this dam on the Cullasaja River serves as a vital infrastructure for the local community. As climate and water resource enthusiasts, understanding the significance and condition of dams like Ravenel Lake Dam can provide valuable insights into the management and sustainability of water resources in the region.
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 Ravenel Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 138 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee | 75 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Rosman | 56 cfs | → |
| Chattooga River Near Clayton | 203 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ravenel Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
- Landing Road Oconee County
- Fall Creek Landing
Campgrounds
- Van Hook Glade
- Van Hook Glade Campground
- Blue Valley Dispersed Camping
- Blue Valley Camp
- Ralph Andrews County Park
- Burrells Ford
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
- Ga/Nc State Line To 2 Miles Downriver
- Burrels Ford To Lick Log Branch (Section 1)
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- Sloan's Bridge Crossing To 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
Track Ravenel Lake 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 Ravenel Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ravenel Lake 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 Significant 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 Ravenel Lake Dam.