Muddy Creek Dam #8 (Nebo) dam
Muddy Creek Dam #8 (Nebo)
Muddy Creek Dam #8 (Nebo) is a local government-owned earth dam located in McDowell, North Carolina, near the city of Morganton. Built in 1964 by the USDA NRCS, this dam on Thompson Creek serves primarily for flood risk reduction. Standing at a structural height of 62 feet and a hydraulic height of 30.5 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 250 acre-feet and a normal storage of 84 acre-feet. With a spillway type of uncontrolled, the dam has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition as per the last inspection in April 2018.
The dam's design by the USDA NRCS and regulation by the NCDEQ's Dam Safety Program ensure that it meets state permitting and inspection requirements. While the risk assessment categorizes it as moderate, with a rating of 3, the dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in December 2015, and the dam is currently without inundation maps or updated emergency contacts. Despite its high hazard potential, Muddy Creek Dam #8 (Nebo) remains a crucial infrastructure for flood risk reduction in the region, managed and maintained to meet state regulatory standards.
Located in a strategic position for water resource management, Muddy Creek Dam #8 (Nebo) plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding areas from flooding. With its stone core and soil foundation, the dam's operational features include uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates. The risk management measures for the dam are not specified, but with a satisfactory condition assessment and regular inspections, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose effectively. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the engineering and regulatory efforts that go into ensuring the safety and functionality of Muddy Creek Dam #8 (Nebo) for flood risk reduction in North Carolina.
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 Muddy Creek Dam #8 (Nebo) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Linville River Near Nebo | 95 cfs | → |
| Catawba R Nr Pleasant Gardens | 118 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 153 cfs | → |
| South Toe River Near Celo | 81 cfs | → |
| First Broad River Near Casar | 34 cfs | → |
| Second Broad River Nr Logan | 69 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Muddy Creek Dam #8 (Nebo).
Boat launches
- Hidden Cove Boat Ramp Mcdowell County
- Houseboat Lane 299, Mcdowell County
- Canal Bridge Boat Ramp Burke County
- Linville Boat Ramp
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Weaver Lane Burke County
Campgrounds
- Lake James State Park
- Paddy Creek Campground
- Mad Mama's River Run Campground
- Lucky Strike Campground
- Vein Mountain Gold Camp & Carolina Emerald Mine
- Horseshoe Bend Family Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
Track Muddy Creek Dam #8 (Nebo) 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 Muddy Creek Dam #8 (Nebo)
Where does the data for Muddy Creek Dam #8 (Nebo) 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 High 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 Muddy Creek Dam #8 (Nebo).