Red Hill Quartz Plant Dam dam
Red Hill Quartz Plant Dam
The Red Hill Quartz Plant Dam, located in Huntdale, North Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1997 for irrigation purposes along the North Toe River-Trib. With a hydraulic height of 36 feet and a structural height of 42 feet, this dam provides a storage capacity of 95 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 65 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 4.5 acres. The dam is regulated by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring regular inspections and enforcement to maintain its satisfactory condition.
Despite its satisfactory condition, the Red Hill Quartz Plant Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, indicating the need for careful monitoring and emergency preparedness. The dam has a history of regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in September 2017, and an emergency action plan (EAP) in place to address any potential risks associated with its operation. The dam's design and construction meet state regulations and guidelines, with an emphasis on ensuring the safety and reliability of the structure for both irrigation purposes and downstream communities.
In the event of a significant risk or emergency, the dam's hazard potential and condition assessment play a crucial role in determining the appropriate response and management measures. With its location in Mitchell County, North Carolina, the Red Hill Quartz Plant Dam serves as a vital water resource for the region, highlighting the importance of regular inspections, risk assessments, and emergency preparedness to safeguard both the dam's integrity and the surrounding environment.
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 Red Hill Quartz Plant Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Toe River Near Celo | 33 cfs | → |
| Nolichucky River At Embreeville | 2,020 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 7 cfs | → |
| Doe River At Elizabethton | 293 cfs | → |
| Watauga River At Elizabethton | 1,390 cfs | → |
| Catawba R Nr Pleasant Gardens | 50 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Red Hill Quartz Plant Dam.
Boat launches
- Mitchell County
- Us 321;Sr 67 Carter County
- Blevins 221-259, Johnson City
- Wilbur Dam Road Carter County
- Lovers Lane 338, Carter County
- Wagner Road, Watauga
Campgrounds
- Saylor Lake Rv Park
- Living Waters Campground
- Lil Rock Creek Campground
- Spivey Gap Recreation Area
- Patience Park Toe River Campground
- Rock Creek Rec Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 100.6) To Mine Branch (Rm 99.3)
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
Track Red Hill Quartz Plant 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 Red Hill Quartz Plant Dam
Where does the data for Red Hill Quartz Plant 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 Red Hill Quartz Plant Dam.