Forest Lake Dam dam
Forest Lake Dam
Forest Lake Dam in Bostic, North Carolina, stands as a vital recreational resource along the 2nd Broad River-Tr. With a hydraulic height of 34 feet and a structural height of 38 feet, this earth dam was completed in 1963 and boasts a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. Despite its primary purpose for recreation, the dam's significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment raise concerns for its long-term stability.
Managed by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, Forest Lake Dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in February 2020. Its location within Rutherford County underscores the importance of maintaining its integrity to ensure the safety of nearby communities. While the dam lacks certain features like spillways and outlet gates, its role in providing recreational opportunities must be balanced with the need for diligent maintenance and risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards and safeguard the surrounding environment.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to monitor the condition of Forest Lake Dam and advocate for necessary upgrades and repairs to enhance its resilience. By staying informed about its maintenance schedule, inspection frequency, and risk assessment measures, stakeholders can play a proactive role in preserving this essential water infrastructure for both recreational enjoyment and environmental protection. As climate change continues to impact water resources, ensuring the safety and stability of dams like Forest Lake Dam is paramount for sustainable water management in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Forest Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Second Broad River Nr Logan | 57 cfs | → |
| Cove Creek Near Lake Lure | 70 cfs | → |
| First Broad River Near Casar | 25 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Boiling Springs | 589 cfs | → |
| North Pacolet River At Fingerville | 78 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Near Fingerville | 70 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Forest Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- First Broad River Trail Shelby
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- Anchor Park
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- John H. Moss Lake Recreation Park
- Lakeshore Drive Cleveland County
Campgrounds
- Vein Mountain Gold Camp & Carolina Emerald Mine
- Lucky Strike Campground
- River Creek Camp Ground
- Murray Branch Campground
- Shelby Mission Camp
- Fox Trail Campground
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Benfield Creek
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Macedonia Lake
Paddle runs
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- 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
Track Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake Dam
Where does the data for Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake Dam.