Nantahala dam
Nantahala
Nantahala is a captivating hydroelectric dam located in Macon, North Carolina, on the picturesque Nantahala River. Built in 1942, this rockfill dam stands at an impressive height of 250 feet and spans a length of 1042 feet, providing a storage capacity of 126,000 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 1605 acres. With a maximum discharge capacity of 54,800 cubic feet per second, Nantahala plays a crucial role in generating clean energy and managing water resources in the region.
Operated by a Public Utility, Nantahala is under the regulatory oversight of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, ensuring compliance with inspection and safety standards. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not available, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance. With its controlled spillway and four Tainter (radial) outlet gates, Nantahala is equipped to handle emergencies and mitigate risks effectively, further emphasizing its importance in water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
Nantahala's strategic location and design make it a key player in North Carolina's energy infrastructure, contributing to the state's renewable energy goals and water management strategies. With its rich history dating back to the early 20th century, Nantahala stands as a testament to human ingenuity and engineering excellence, serving as a vital resource for both energy production and environmental stewardship 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 Nantahala -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 119 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River At Needmore | 445 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 169 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Valley River At Tomotla | 110 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nantahala .
Boat launches
- Massey Branch Road 1184, Robbinsville
- Jackrabbit Boating Access
- Music Hall Road Towns County
- Cable Cove Road, Fontana Dam
- Cable Cove Road Graham County
- Joyce Kilmer Road 1986, Graham County
Campgrounds
- Appletree Group Campground
- Appletree Group Camp
- Wine Spring Campsite
- Ledbetter Creek Camp
- Moore Creek Camp
- Lost Mine Camp Ground
Fishing spots
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Santeetlah Lake
- Augerhole Branch
- Birchfield Branch
- Lake Burton
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
- Natahala Powerhouse To Lake Fontana (River Mile 4)
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
Track Nantahala 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 Nantahala
Where does the data for Nantahala 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 Nantahala .