Busbee Reservoir Dam dam
Busbee Reservoir Dam
Busbee Reservoir Dam, also known as Biltmore Company Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Buncombe, North Carolina. Completed in 1914, this Earth type dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene environment for visitors to enjoy various water activities. With a hydraulic height of 16 feet and a structural height of 20 feet, the dam boasts a length of 708 feet and a storage capacity of 48 acre-feet, making it an essential water resource within the region.
Managed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Busbee Reservoir Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure public safety and environmental protection. Despite being categorized as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 deemed it to be in fair condition. With an inspection frequency of every two years, measures are in place to mitigate risks and address any potential hazards promptly. While no spillway information is provided, the dam's association with the tributary to Sweeten Creek highlights its significance in the local hydrological system.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the historical and functional significance of Busbee Reservoir Dam in Biltmore, North Carolina. As a vital structure for recreational activities and water storage, the dam's presence underscores the importance of sustainable water management practices in the region. With ongoing regulatory oversight and maintenance efforts, the dam continues to serve its purpose while ensuring the safety and well-being of the surrounding community.
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 Busbee Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Swannanoa River At Biltmore | 26 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Asheville | 573 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 461 cfs | → |
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 2 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 50 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Busbee Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Redmon Road Madison County
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
Campgrounds
- Firefighter Island Campsite
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Lake Powhatan
- Campfire Lodgings
- Creekside Mountain Camping
- North Mills River Campground
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 Busbee Reservoir 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 Busbee Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Busbee Reservoir 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 Busbee Reservoir Dam.