Lupton Lake Dam dam
Lupton Lake Dam
Lupton Lake Dam, located in Sapphire, North Carolina, along the Horsepasture River, is a concrete structure primarily used for recreational purposes. Built in 1938, the dam stands at a hydraulic height of 16 feet and a structural height of 18 feet, with a length of 300 feet. Despite its historical significance, the dam's condition has been assessed as poor, indicating the need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure safety and functionality.
Owned privately, Lupton Lake Dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. The dam has a significant hazard potential, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to mitigate any risks to surrounding communities and the environment. With a storage capacity of 69 acre-feet and a surface area of 12 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities while also requiring careful oversight and management to address its current condition assessment.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the intricacies of dams like Lupton Lake Dam is essential for ensuring the sustainable management of water resources and infrastructure. With ongoing inspections and regulatory oversight, there is an opportunity to address the dam's poor condition and implement risk management measures to safeguard its integrity and functionality for future generations. The history and significance of Lupton Lake Dam serve as a reminder of the importance of balancing recreation with safety and environmental stewardship in water resource management.
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 Lupton Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee | 55 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Rosman | 58 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 143 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
| W F Pigeon R Above Lake Logan Nr Hazelwood | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lupton Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
- Landing Road Oconee County
- Fall Creek Landing
Campgrounds
- Ralph Andrews County Park
- Bearcamp Creek Campsite
- Wintergreen Campsite
- Indian Camp Campsite
- Buck Fields
- Bear Creek Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- Sloan's Bridge Crossing To 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
- Burrels Ford To Lick Log Branch (Section 1)
- Ga/Nc State Line To 2 Miles Downriver
Track Lupton 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 Lupton Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lupton 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 Lupton Lake Dam.