Long Valley Lake Dam dam
Long Valley Lake Dam
Long Valley Lake Dam, located in Buncombe County, North Carolina, serves the primary purpose of irrigation and was completed in 1983. This privately owned earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 35 feet and a structural height of 48 feet, with a length of 300 feet and a storage capacity of 930 acre-feet. The dam regulates the flow of the Long Valley Branch and covers a surface area of 15 acres, with a drainage area of 1218 acres.
Maintained and regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Long Valley Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and was last assessed to be in fair condition in January 2016. The dam has a state permit, undergoes regular inspections every five years, and has emergency action plans in place. While the dam does not have a spillway or locks, it plays a crucial role in maintaining water resources for irrigation in the region, highlighting the intersection of water resource management and climate considerations.
With its strategic location in Asheville and its critical role in water management for agricultural purposes, Long Valley Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of responsible dam construction and maintenance in the face of changing climate patterns. As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to advocate for sustainable practices, the presence of dams like Long Valley Lake Dam underscores the need for ongoing monitoring, assessment, and regulatory oversight to ensure the safety and efficiency of these vital structures.
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 Long Valley Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | → |
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 2 cfs | → |
| Pigeon River Near Canton | 80 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Long Valley Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Redmon Road Madison County
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
Campgrounds
- Firefighter Island Campsite
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Lake Powhatan
- Campfire Lodgings
- North Mills River Campground
- North Mills River
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 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
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
Track Long Valley 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 Long Valley Lake Dam
Where does the data for Long Valley 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 Low 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 Long Valley Lake Dam.