Chestnut Hill Dam dam
Chestnut Hill Dam
Located in Marshall, North Carolina, the Chestnut Hill Dam, also known as McGee Dam, is a private recreational earth dam situated on the Long Branch river. Standing at a hydraulic height of 35 feet and a structural height of 38 feet, this dam offers a serene environment for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking. With a normal storage capacity of 40 acre-feet and a drainage area of 70 acres, this dam provides a picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore.
Despite its fair condition assessment as of February 2018, the Chestnut Hill Dam has a high hazard potential, reflecting the importance of ongoing maintenance and inspection. The dam's emergency action plan has not been updated recently, highlighting the need for continued vigilance in mitigating potential risks. Owned privately, this dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring compliance with state regulations and inspections to uphold public safety.
For those interested in water resource management and climate resilience, the Chestnut Hill Dam serves as a valuable case study in balancing recreational use with dam safety. The dam's location in the Nashville District and its proximity to the city of Marshall offer a unique opportunity to observe the intersection of human activity and natural resources in a rural setting. With its historical significance and potential for future risk management measures, the Chestnut Hill Dam presents a compelling site for further exploration and study in the realm of water infrastructure and climate adaptation.
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 Chestnut Hill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River At Marshall | 723 cfs | → |
| Ivy River Near Marshall | 52 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Hot Springs | 693 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Asheville | 602 cfs | → |
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 3 cfs | → |
| Swannanoa River At Biltmore | 28 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chestnut Hill Dam.
Boat launches
- Redmon Road Madison County
- French Broad Boat Launch
- Mitchell County
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
- Hooper Lane Mills River
Campgrounds
- Evan's Island Campsite
- Big Pine Campsite
- Windy Gap - A Young Life Camp
- Campfire Lodgings
- Silvermine Group Campground
- Rocky Bluff
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 100.6) To Mine Branch (Rm 99.3)
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- 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
Track Chestnut Hill 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 Chestnut Hill Dam
Where does the data for Chestnut Hill 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 Chestnut Hill Dam.