Dupont Lake Dam dam
Dupont Lake Dam
Dupont Lake Dam, also known as Dera Dam, is a state-owned structure located in Transylvania, North Carolina, specifically in the city of Little River. Managed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, this earthen dam serves primarily for recreational purposes. Standing at a hydraulic height of 24 feet and a structural height of 30 feet, Dupont Lake Dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 202 acre-feet with a normal storage level of 125 acre-feet. The dam spans a length of 715 feet and covers a surface area of 13 acres.
Although last inspected in August 2017 and deemed to be in satisfactory condition, Dupont Lake Dam carries a significant hazard potential and is subject to regular inspections every two years. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, and it features outlets gates for water discharge. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam's risk management measures, emergency action plans, and inundation maps are all critical components to ensure the safety of the surrounding community in the event of a breach or emergency situation. Overall, Dupont Lake Dam stands as a vital water resource structure in the region, providing both recreational opportunities and essential flood control functions for the Little River-Tr watershed.
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 Dupont Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 18 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 32 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 260 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Rosman | 56 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 49 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dupont Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
Campgrounds
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Davidson River Recreation Area
- Davidson River Campground
- Davidson River
- Kuykendall Group Campground
Fishing spots
- Bear Creek Lake
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Presbyterian Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
Paddle runs
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
Track Dupont 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 Dupont Lake Dam
Where does the data for Dupont 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 Dupont Lake Dam.