Lake Wanteska Dam dam
Lake Wanteska Dam
Lake Wanteska Dam, located in Powellton, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1972, this earth-type dam stands at a structural height of 70 feet with a hydraulic height of 63 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 2,300 acre-feet, providing ample water resources for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming on its 46-acre surface area.
Managed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Lake Wanteska Dam is regularly inspected to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam has been assessed as being in satisfactory condition, with a high hazard potential due to its height and storage capacity. Emergency action plans are in place, although they were last revised in 2011, indicating a need for updating to meet current guidelines and risk management measures.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Lake Wanteska Dam to be a fascinating example of how private entities can contribute to the management of water bodies for recreational purposes. With its picturesque location on Lower Creek and its critical role in providing water storage for various activities, this dam serves as a valuable asset to the community while also highlighting the importance of regular inspections and emergency preparedness in ensuring public safety in the face of potential hazards.
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 Lake Wanteska Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River At Rosman | 56 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 32 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 18 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 260 cfs | → |
| W F Pigeon R Above Lake Logan Nr Hazelwood | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Wanteska Dam.
Boat launches
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
Campgrounds
- Kuykendall Group Campground
- Cantrell Campsite
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Butter Gap Shelter
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Heath Pine Ridge Campsite
Fishing spots
- Bear Creek Lake
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Presbyterian Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Yonah Lake
- Tallulah Falls Lake
Paddle runs
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
Track Lake Wanteska 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 Lake Wanteska Dam
Where does the data for Lake Wanteska 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 Lake Wanteska Dam.