Burlington Mills Dam dam
Burlington Mills Dam
Burlington Mills Dam, located on the Second Broad River in Caroleen, North Carolina, stands as a testament to the state's early embrace of hydroelectric power. Built in 1900, this concrete arch dam has a height of 26 feet and a hydraulic height of 22 feet, providing storage for up to 15 acre-feet of water. The dam serves a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation, contributing to the region's energy needs while also offering recreational opportunities on its 1-acre surface area.
Despite its age, the dam has not been rated for condition assessment since its last inspection in 1990. With a significant hazard potential, there is a need for regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and the safety of downstream communities. As a privately owned structure without state regulation or permitting, the responsibility falls on the owner to implement risk management measures and emergency action plans to mitigate any potential risks associated with the dam.
The Burlington Mills Dam remains a historic landmark in North Carolina, showcasing the state's early advancements in hydroelectric infrastructure. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to recognize the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures to ensure their continued safe operation and contribution to the region's energy needs. By staying informed and advocating for responsible dam management practices, we can help preserve these valuable resources for future generations.
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 Burlington Mills Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Broad River Near Boiling Springs | 392 cfs | → |
| Second Broad River Nr Logan | 31 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Near Fingerville | 81 cfs | → |
| North Pacolet River At Fingerville | 51 cfs | → |
| First Broad River Near Casar | 19 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Blacksburg | 338 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burlington Mills Dam.
Boat launches
- First Broad River Trail Shelby
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- Anchor Park
- John H. Moss Lake Recreation Park
- Lakeshore Drive Cleveland County
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
Campgrounds
- Shelby Mission Camp
- John H. Moss Lake City Campground
- Vein Mountain Gold Camp & Carolina Emerald Mine
- River Creek Camp Ground
- Lucky Strike Campground
- Murray Branch Campground
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Macedonia Lake
- Benfield Creek
Paddle runs
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
Track Burlington Mills 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 Burlington Mills Dam
Where does the data for Burlington Mills 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 Burlington Mills Dam.