Mission dam
Mission
Mission is a private hydroelectric dam located in Clay, North Carolina, along the Hiwassee River. Completed in 1924, it stands at a height of 50 feet with a structural height of 50 feet and a dam length of 397 feet. With a storage capacity of 282 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 34,000 cubic feet per second, Mission plays a crucial role in harnessing the power of water for energy generation.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Mission is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a high hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating, Mission's emergency action plan is crucial in mitigating risks and ensuring the safety of downstream communities. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 126 feet and Tainter gates for outlet control.
Despite its age, Mission continues to contribute to the region's energy needs and serves as a reminder of the importance of proper dam management in the face of changing climate conditions. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to monitor and support initiatives that promote sustainable water usage and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
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 Mission -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Valley River At Tomotla | 116 cfs | → |
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 81 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 121 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Near Clayton | 75 cfs | → |
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 141 cfs | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 259 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mission .
Boat launches
- Hiwassee Street Murphy
- Payne Street Murphy
- Jackrabbit Boating Access
- Ramsey Bend South Cherokee County
- Hanging Dog Campground Road 1881, Murphy
- Music Hall Road Towns County
Campgrounds
- Fires Creek Hunt Camp
- Fires Creek Hunters Camp
- Gibson Cove - Chatuge Reservoir
- Gibson Cove Campground
- Clay County Recreation Campground
- Clay Co Park
Fishing spots
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Santeetlah Lake
- Tellico River
- Indian Boundary Lake
- Lake Burton
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
- Source Near Chattahoochee Gap To Mark Trail Wilderness Boundary
Track Mission 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 Mission
Where does the data for Mission 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 Mission .