Carroll Lake Dam dam
Carroll Lake Dam
Carroll Lake Dam, located in Clay County, North Carolina, stands as a testament to early 20th-century engineering with its completion in 1910. This privately-owned earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a serene retreat for visitors to enjoy the beauty of Carroll Branch. With a structural height of 32.5 feet and a hydraulic height of 27 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 260 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 16 acres.
Despite its age, Carroll Lake Dam maintains a fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in January 2015, with a low hazard potential. The dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring regular inspections and enforcement of safety measures. While the dam has not undergone significant modifications in recent years, its historical significance and importance for water resource management and climate enthusiasts make it a notable landmark in the region.
For those interested in water resource management and climate resilience, Carroll Lake Dam offers a glimpse into early 20th-century dam construction and its role in providing recreational opportunities while ensuring safety and environmental conservation. With its modest storage capacity, the dam remains a vital piece of infrastructure in the region, serving as a reminder of the importance of proper dam maintenance and regulation to prevent potential hazards and ensure the continued enjoyment of its recreational benefits for years to come.
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 Carroll Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Valley River At Tomotla | 116 cfs | → |
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 81 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 121 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Near Clayton | 75 cfs | → |
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 141 cfs | → |
| Toccoa River Near Dial | 271 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carroll Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Hiwassee Street Murphy
- Payne Street Murphy
- Jackrabbit Boating Access
- Ramsey Bend South Cherokee County
- Hanging Dog Campground Road 1881, Murphy
- Music Hall Road Towns County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Fires Creek Hunt Camp
- Fires Creek Hunters Camp
- Gibson Cove - Chatuge Reservoir
- Gibson Cove Campground
- Clay County Recreation Campground
- Clay Co Park
🎣 Fishing spots
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Santeetlah Lake
- Tellico River
- Indian Boundary Lake
- Lake Burton
🛶 Paddle runs
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Source Near Chattahoochee Gap To Mark Trail Wilderness Boundary
Track Carroll 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 Carroll Lake Dam
Where does the data for Carroll 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 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 Carroll Lake Dam.