Wells Upper (West) dam
Wells Upper (West)
Wells Upper (West) is a recreational dam located in Murphy, North Carolina, along the Gold Branch river. The dam has a structural height of 27.9 feet and a length of 423 feet, with a storage capacity of 22 acre-feet. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam is in fair condition as of the last inspection in April 2013.
Owned by an unspecified entity and not regulated by the state, Wells Upper (West) serves primarily for recreational purposes. The dam does not have any associated structures and is not subject to state permitting or enforcement. The surrounding area offers a surface area of 2 acres for visitors to enjoy, making it a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the region.
With its picturesque location and essential role in providing recreational opportunities, Wells Upper (West) stands as a testament to the intersection of water resources and climate in North Carolina. While its hazard potential may be low, the dam's maintenance and condition assessment remain crucial to ensure the safety and enjoyment of visitors to this scenic spot along the Gold Branch river.
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 Wells Upper (West) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Valley River At Tomotla | 85 cfs | → |
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 60 cfs | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 245 cfs | → |
| Toccoa River Near Dial | 230 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 83 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 96 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wells Upper (West).
Boat launches
- Nottely Dam Road Union County
- Ramsey Bend South Cherokee County
- Hanging Dog Campground Road 1881, Murphy
- Hiwassee Street Murphy
- Payne Street Murphy
- Watts Place South Union County
Campgrounds
- Poteete Creek
- Hanging Dog
- Morganton Point
- Morganton Point Campground
- Fires Creek Hunt Camp
- Fires Creek Hunters Camp
Fishing spots
- Noontootla Creek Farms
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Tellico River
- Big Bend
- Dockery Lake
- Childers Creek Trailhead
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Source Near Chattahoochee Gap To Mark Trail Wilderness Boundary
- Mark Trail Wilderness Boundry To Old Turnpike Crossing Near Vandiver Branch
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
Track Wells Upper (West) 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 Wells Upper (West)
Where does the data for Wells Upper (West) 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 Wells Upper (West).