Beacon Reservoir Dam dam
Beacon Reservoir Dam
Beacon Reservoir Dam, located in Buncombe, North Carolina, stands as a testament to the engineering marvels of water resource management. This private-owned concrete dam on the Swannanoa River-Tr boasts a structural height of 50 feet, demonstrating its importance in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential hazards. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam remains in a not-rated condition since its last inspection in 2007, showcasing the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
While Beacon Reservoir Dam serves a primary purpose classified as "Other," its significance in water storage and management cannot be understated. The dam's specific dimensions and storage capacities are not readily available, underscoring the need for further data collection and analysis. However, its presence in the Wilmington District of North Carolina highlights its role in regulating water flow and mitigating flood risks in the region. As a non-Federal structure, the dam's operations and oversight fall under the purview of state regulatory agencies, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between private owners and governing bodies in ensuring its safety and functionality.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts delve into the intricacies of Beacon Reservoir Dam, questions surrounding its construction year, storage capabilities, and emergency preparedness measures come to the forefront. With a high hazard potential and a lack of recent condition assessments, the dam presents a compelling case for increased attention and investment in monitoring and maintenance protocols. By harnessing the power of data and technology, stakeholders can work together to enhance the resilience of Beacon Reservoir Dam and uphold its critical role in water resource management amidst a changing climate landscape.
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 Beacon Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 2 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 7 cfs | → |
| Swannanoa River At Biltmore | 23 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Asheville | 553 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 447 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 49 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Beacon Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Redmon Road Madison County
- Houseboat Lane 299, Mcdowell County
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
Campgrounds
- Creekside Mountain Camping
- Catawba Falls Campground, Llc
- Blue Ridge Parkway Tent
- Bpw
- Windy Gap - A Young Life Camp
- Campfire Lodgings
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
- Nolichucky River
- Dillard Place
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
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
Track Beacon Reservoir 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 Beacon Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Beacon Reservoir 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 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 Beacon Reservoir Dam.