Cheoah dam
Cheoah
Cheoah is a privately owned hydroelectric dam located in Tapoco, North Carolina. Built in 1919, this gravity dam stands at a height of 214 feet and has a hydraulic height of 236 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 42,000 acre-feet. The dam, designed in a multi-arch core type with a rock foundation, spans 750 feet across the Little Tennessee River and has a spillway width of 475 feet.
With a hazard potential rated as high and a risk assessment indicating very high risk, Cheoah is closely monitored by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in December 2020, and while the condition assessment is not available, inspections are conducted annually. The dam features 19 Tainter (radial) outlet gates and a maximum discharge capacity of 225,200 cubic feet per second, making it a crucial part of the region's water resource management and energy production infrastructure. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cheoah represents a fascinating blend of engineering innovation and environmental impact in the context of hydroelectric power generation.
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 Cheoah -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 141 cfs | → |
| Little River Above Townsend | 122 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 131 cfs | → |
| Valley River At Tomotla | 116 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Maryville | 166 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River At Needmore | 463 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cheoah .
Boat launches
- Slickrock Creek Trail Monroe County
- Meadow Branch Road Graham County
- Joyce Kilmer Road 1986, Graham County
- Joyce Kilmer Road 1920, Robbinsville
- Calderwood Highway Blount County
- Highway 28, Fontana Dam
Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Hunt Camp
- 95 Dalton Branch
- 93 Twentymile Creek
- Horse Cove Campground
- Horse Cove
- 13 Sheep Pen Gap
Fishing spots
- Santeetlah Lake
- Augerhole Branch
- Birchfield Branch
- Citico Creek
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Indian Boundary Lake
Paddle runs
- 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
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 48.0) To Tn360 Bridge (Rm 30.0)
- Natahala Powerhouse To Lake Fontana (River Mile 4)
Track Cheoah 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 Cheoah
Where does the data for Cheoah 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 Cheoah .