Kanuga Conference Lake Dam Dam
Kanuga Conference Lake Dam
Located in Hendersonville, North Carolina, the Kanuga Conference Lake Dam is a private earth dam constructed in 1966 by the USDA NRCS. The dam is primarily used for recreation purposes and stands at a structural height of 29.5 feet, with a hydraulic height of 23 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 16 acre-feet and a surface area of 26 acres, providing a picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
Managed by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, the Kanuga Conference Lake Dam is state regulated and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a significant hazard potential that is rated as satisfactory in condition assessment. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam's risk management measures are not specified, suggesting potential areas for improvement to enhance safety and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
With its scenic location on Little Mud Creek and ties to the USDA NRCS, the Kanuga Conference Lake Dam serves as a notable example of water resource management in North Carolina. As climate change impacts continue to affect water resources, ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and risk management efforts will be crucial to ensure the safety and sustainability of this recreational dam for future generations of enthusiasts and visitors.
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 Kanuga Conference Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 451 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 19 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 235 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 78 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 1,170 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kanuga Conference Lake Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Kanuga Conference Lake Dam
Where does the data for Kanuga Conference 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 below 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.
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.