Cascade Lake Dam dam
Cascade Lake Dam
Cascade Lake Dam, located in Little River, North Carolina, is a concrete structure with a hydraulic height of 58 feet and a structural height of 58 feet. Built in 1919, this dam serves multiple purposes, including providing water storage of up to 2304 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 2300 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 25,600 acres and a maximum discharge rate of 50,778 cubic feet per second, Cascade Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
The dam is owned by a Public Utility and is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition was assessed as fair during the last inspection in August 2017. With a hazard potential designation, it is crucial for the dam owner and regulatory agencies to ensure regular inspections and maintenance to mitigate any potential risks to downstream communities and the environment. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures are currently not specified, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and preparedness efforts.
In addition to serving its primary purpose of water storage, Cascade Lake Dam also contributes to flood control and recreation in the area. With its strategic location on the Little River and its historical significance as a key infrastructure asset, the dam represents a vital link in the region's water resource and climate resilience efforts. As climate change continues to impact water availability and extreme weather events, the maintenance and proper management of dams like Cascade Lake Dam will be essential for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources 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 Cascade Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 32 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 260 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 18 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Rosman | 56 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 49 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cascade Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
Campgrounds
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Davidson River Recreation Area
- Davidson River Campground
- Davidson River
- White Pines Group Campground
Fishing spots
- Bear Creek Lake
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Presbyterian Lake
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
Paddle runs
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- 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 Cascade 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 Cascade Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cascade 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 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 Cascade Lake Dam.