Tuckasegee dam
Tuckasegee
Located in Tuckasegee, North Carolina, the Tuckasegee Dam is a key structure on the West Fork Tuckasegee River, primarily serving a hydroelectric purpose since its completion in 1950. With a dam height of 61 feet and a structural height of 63.8 feet, the Tuckasegee Dam boasts a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 8 acres and draining an area of 55 square miles.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Tuckasegee Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its size and location. This arch-type dam with a multi-arch core stands at 254 feet in length and has a controlled spillway width of 234 feet. Despite its age, the dam undergoes regular inspections by the FERC to ensure its structural integrity and operational safety, with emergency action plans in place to mitigate any potential risks.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be fascinated by the intricate design and purpose of the Tuckasegee Dam, which not only generates hydroelectric power but also plays a crucial role in managing water flow and storage in the region. As a prominent feature on the West Fork Tuckasegee River, this dam symbolizes the intersection of human engineering with natural resources, highlighting the complex relationship between water infrastructure and environmental sustainability in North Carolina's Jackson County.
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 Tuckasegee -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee | 647 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Barker's Creek | 479 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
| W F Pigeon R Above Lake Logan Nr Hazelwood | 53 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 260 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tuckasegee .
Boat launches
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- Great Smoky Mountains Expressway 5453, Jackson County
- Church Street Jackson County
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- 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
Track Tuckasegee 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 Tuckasegee
Where does the data for Tuckasegee 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 Tuckasegee .