Bee Tree Lake Dam dam
Bee Tree Lake Dam
Located in Buncombe, North Carolina, Bee Tree Lake Dam is a vital structure owned by the local government and regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. Built in 1927, this earth dam stands at a height of 182 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 2017 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 2800 acre-feet. The dam serves primarily as a water supply source for the surrounding area, drawing water from Bee Tree Creek and covering a surface area of 41 acres.
With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of April 2019, Bee Tree Lake Dam is subject to regular inspections every two years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam's hydraulic height reaches 162.8 feet, with a dam length of 887 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 46,000 cubic feet per second. As an essential component of the local water infrastructure, Bee Tree Lake Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating the impacts of climate change in the region.
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 Bee Tree Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 3 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 35 cfs | → |
| Swannanoa River At Biltmore | 71 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Asheville | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Ivy River Near Marshall | 130 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 753 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bee Tree 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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More reservoirs
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About Bee Tree Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bee Tree 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 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 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.