Blue Star Dam Lower dam
Blue Star Dam Lower
Located in Hendersonville, North Carolina, the Blue Star Dam Lower is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1963 for recreational purposes along Mud Creek. With a hydraulic height of 26 feet and a structural height of 29 feet, this dam provides a storage capacity of 85 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 70 acre-feet. The dam's hazard potential is classified as high, but its condition is deemed satisfactory as of the last inspection in January 2015.
Managed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, the Blue Star Dam Lower is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with standards. While the dam does not have associated structures or outlet gates, its maximum discharge capacity is 50 cubic feet per second, serving a drainage area of 659 square miles. The dam's location in Henderson County makes it a key recreational site for residents and visitors, offering a tranquil setting for outdoor activities.
As a vital component of the local water resource infrastructure, the Blue Star Dam Lower plays a crucial role in flood control and water management in the region. With its historical significance and continued maintenance, this dam serves as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in safeguarding communities and ecosystems. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate science can appreciate the engineering marvel and environmental impact of the Blue Star Dam Lower in the context of the broader challenges and opportunities facing water management 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 Blue Star Dam Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 267 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 14 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 34 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 50 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 461 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blue Star Dam Lower.
Boat launches
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
Campgrounds
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Davidson River Recreation Area
- Davidson River Campground
- Davidson River
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bear Creek Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
- Presbyterian Lake
Paddle runs
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- 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 Blue Star Dam Lower 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 Blue Star Dam Lower
Where does the data for Blue Star Dam Lower 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 Blue Star Dam Lower.