Palmetto Lake Lower Dam dam
Palmetto Lake Lower Dam
Palmetto Lake Lower Dam, located in Pea Ridge, North Carolina, is a privately-owned earth dam on Cove Creek with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a structural height of 35 feet and a hydraulic height of 29.1 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 40 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 70 acre-feet. The dam has a surface area of 5 acres and a length of 220 feet, providing a scenic backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
This dam is state-regulated by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, ensuring regular inspections and enforcement of safety measures. The last inspection conducted in July 2014 deemed the dam to be in satisfactory condition, with a significant hazard potential. Despite its age of completion not being specified, the dam continues to serve its recreational purpose effectively and is a vital part of the local water resource management system.
With a notable congressman, Patrick T. McHenry, representing the area in Congress, Palmetto Lake Lower Dam is a key feature in the region's landscape. While the dam does not have associated structures or locks, its importance lies in providing a safe and enjoyable environment for recreational activities while contributing to the overall water resource management in Polk County, 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 Palmetto Lake Lower Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Pacolet River Nr Campobello | 19 cfs | → |
| Cove Creek Near Lake Lure | 34 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 7 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 16 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 452 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 257 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Palmetto Lake Lower Dam.
Boat launches
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Anchor Park
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
Campgrounds
- Creekside Mountain Camping
- River Creek Camp Ground
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- North Mills River Campground
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bear Creek Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
- Johns Creek Lake
Paddle runs
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
Track Palmetto Lake Lower 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 Palmetto Lake Lower Dam
Where does the data for Palmetto Lake Lower 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 Palmetto Lake Lower Dam.