Bright Penny Dam dam
Bright Penny Dam
Bright Penny Dam, also known as Powder Horne Dam, is a private dam located in Watauga, North Carolina, along Laurel Fork Creek. This earth dam is primarily used for recreation, offering a serene spot for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the surrounding beauty. With a hydraulic height of 32.4 feet and a structural height of 37 feet, Bright Penny Dam holds a normal storage capacity of 32 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 45 acre-feet.
Despite its recreational purpose, Bright Penny Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, emphasizing the need for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its safety. The dam has been deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of December 2019, with inspections conducted every two years. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in December 2015, highlighting a commitment to preparedness in case of any unforeseen events.
Located in a picturesque setting in the Wilmington District, Bright Penny Dam serves as a vital water resource for the local community while also providing a peaceful recreational retreat. With its potential for risk, ongoing assessments and management measures are essential to safeguard both the dam's integrity and the surrounding environment. This dam stands as a testament to the delicate balance between water resource management and climate resilience in North Carolina.
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 Bright Penny Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elk Creek At Elkville | 23 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 12 cfs | → |
| South Fork New River Near Jefferson | 124 cfs | → |
| Watauga River Near Sugar Grove | 38 cfs | → |
| Reddies River At North Wilkesboro | 41 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Wilkesboro | 313 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bright Penny Dam.
Boat launches
- Stuart Williams Road Watauga County
- Roby Green Road Watauga County
- Castle Ford Road Ashe County
- River Road Watauga County
- Big Hill Road Watauga County
- Price Lake Trail Watauga County
Campgrounds
- Deep Gap Campsite
- Goshen Creek
- Honey Bear Campground
- Obids Creek Campsite
- Old Johns River Road
- Price Park Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
Track Bright Penny 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 Bright Penny Dam
Where does the data for Bright Penny 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 Bright Penny Dam.