Brooks Creek Dam dam
Brooks Creek Dam
Brooks Creek Dam, located in Macon, North Carolina, is a private-owned structure primarily used for recreation. Situated in the Clear Creek Community, this earth dam on Brooks Creek has a hydraulic height of 13.5 feet and a structural height of 21.5 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 9 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 18 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 2 acres and serves a drainage area of 723 square miles.
Although the dam's condition assessment in 2013 was rated as fair, its hazard potential is deemed significant. The last inspection took place in January 2013, and the dam is currently not under state regulation or permitting. With no associated structures or federal agency involvement, Brooks Creek Dam stands as a key feature in the recreational landscape of Macon County. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam provides an intriguing case study in private ownership and maintenance of critical infrastructure in a scenic natural setting.
As the only dam on Brooks Creek, this structure plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities while also posing potential risks to the surrounding community. With its unique characteristics and location, Brooks Creek Dam presents a fascinating intersection of human intervention and natural water systems. For those interested in water resource management and climate resilience, this dam offers a compelling example of the complexities and challenges involved in balancing human needs with environmental stewardship.
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 Brooks Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 138 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Chattooga River Near Clayton | 203 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee | 75 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Near Clayton | 62 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brooks Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- Landing Road Oconee County
- Fall Creek Landing
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
Campgrounds
- Blue Valley Camp
- Blue Valley Dispersed Camping
- Van Hook Glade
- Van Hook Glade Campground
- Sarah's Creek Campground
- Sarahs Creek
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Ga/Nc State Line To 2 Miles Downriver
- Burrels Ford To Lick Log Branch (Section 1)
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
- Highway 28 To Earl's Ford (Section 2)
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- Sloan's Bridge Crossing To 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
Track Brooks Creek 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 Brooks Creek Dam
Where does the data for Brooks Creek 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 Significant 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 Brooks Creek Dam.