Cataloochee Ski Slope Dam dam
Cataloochee Ski Slope Dam
Located in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, the Cataloochee Ski Slope Dam stands as a crucial structure for irrigation purposes in the region. Completed in 1998 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam has a hydraulic height of 37 feet and a structural height of 39 feet, with a length of 180 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 15 acre-feet and serves an area with a drainage area of 81 square miles.
This privately owned dam on Hemphill Creek-Tr is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. With a high hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam is inspected biennially to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a maximum discharge capacity of 413 cubic feet per second, making it an essential component of the local water resource infrastructure.
Despite its moderate risk assessment, the Cataloochee Ski Slope Dam plays a crucial role in the irrigation needs of the area. With its stone core and soil foundation, the dam is designed to withstand the pressures of its surroundings while providing vital water resources for agricultural purposes. As climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates, understanding and monitoring the condition of dams like Cataloochee is essential for ensuring the sustainability and safety of our water infrastructure in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Cataloochee Ski Slope Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cataloochee Creek Near Cataloochee | 253 cfs | → |
| Pigeon River Near Hepco | 1,540 cfs | → |
| W Fk Pigeon R At Bethel | 446 cfs | → |
| West Fork Pigeon River Near Retreat | 36 cfs | → |
| Pigeon River Near Canton | 613 cfs | → |
| East Fork Pigeon River Near Canton | 590 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cataloochee Ski Slope Dam.
Boat launches
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
- Great Smoky Mountains Expressway 5453, Jackson County
- Church Street Jackson County
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- French Broad Boat Launch
- Redmon Road Madison County
Campgrounds
- 41
- #41 Caldwell Fork
- 40
- #40 Big Hemlock
- Balsam Mountain Campground
- Balsam Mountain - Great Smoky Mountains
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- 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
Track Cataloochee Ski Slope 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 Cataloochee Ski Slope Dam
Where does the data for Cataloochee Ski Slope 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 Cataloochee Ski Slope Dam.