Blue Star Dam Upper dam
Blue Star Dam Upper
Blue Star Dam Upper, located in Hendersonville, North Carolina, along Mud Creek, is a private dam primarily used for recreation purposes. With a hydraulic height of 53 feet and a structural height of 56 feet, this earth dam stands at a significant 370 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 407 acre-feet. The dam is state-regulated by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, ensuring that it undergoes regular inspections and enforcement to maintain its satisfactory condition.
The dam's hazard potential is classified as high, prompting a biennial inspection frequency to ensure public safety. Despite its risk level, the dam has been deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in January 2015. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment remain undisclosed, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and management to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of surrounding communities. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Blue Star Dam Upper serves as a significant recreational asset within the region's water infrastructure network, warranting continued attention and oversight.
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 Blue Star Dam Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 260 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 18 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 32 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 49 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 447 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blue Star Dam Upper.
Boat launches
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
Campgrounds
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Davidson River Recreation Area
- Davidson River Campground
- Davidson River
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bear Creek Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
- Presbyterian Lake
Paddle runs
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
Track Blue Star Dam Upper 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 Blue Star Dam Upper
Where does the data for Blue Star Dam Upper 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 Blue Star Dam Upper.