Melrose Mountain Dam #2 dam
Melrose Mountain Dam #2
Melrose Mountain Dam #2, located in Valhalla, North Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1972 for recreational purposes. With a structural height of 47 feet and a hydraulic height of 42 feet, the dam stands as a vital structure on the UT to Big Falls Creek (Trout). The dam has a storage capacity of 157 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 118 acre-feet and a drainage area of 35 square miles.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of March 2015, Melrose Mountain Dam #2 poses a high hazard potential, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance. The dam is state regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Dam Safety Program, ensuring compliance with safety standards and enforcement measures. The dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status and risk assessment information are currently not available, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring and preparedness.
As a key feature in the Wilmington District, Melrose Mountain Dam #2 serves not only as a recreational site but also as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area. Its location, design, and capacity make it a significant asset in managing water flow and storage in Polk County, emphasizing the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Melrose Mountain Dam #2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Pacolet River Nr Campobello | 19 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 8 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 18 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Above Greer | 14 cfs | → |
| Cove Creek Near Lake Lure | 33 cfs | → |
| North Pacolet River At Fingerville | 51 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Melrose Mountain Dam #2.
Boat launches
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Anchor Park
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
Campgrounds
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- River Creek Camp Ground
- Creekside Mountain Camping
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Paris Mountain State Park
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bear Creek Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
- Johns Creek Lake
Paddle runs
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
Track Melrose Mountain Dam #2 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 Melrose Mountain Dam #2
Where does the data for Melrose Mountain Dam #2 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 Melrose Mountain Dam #2.