Camp Grier Dam dam
Camp Grier Dam
Camp Grier Dam, located in McDowell County, North Carolina, stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management for recreational purposes. Built in 1930, this concrete dam on Mill Creek provides a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet and a hydraulic height of 30 feet, making it an essential feature for the surrounding area. The dam's primary purpose is recreation, offering a serene backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
Managed by a private entity, Camp Grier Dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring that it meets state inspection and enforcement standards. With a structural height of 31 feet and a length of 125 feet, the dam presents a high hazard potential but maintains a satisfactory condition assessment as of March 2018. In the event of emergencies, the dam's Emergency Action Plan readiness and risk assessment measures are yet to be fully disclosed, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring and preparedness efforts.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts admire the beauty and functionality of Camp Grier Dam, they are reminded of the delicate balance between harnessing water for recreation and safeguarding against potential risks. With a rich history dating back to the early 20th century, this structure serves as a beacon of responsible dam construction and maintenance, highlighting the importance of ongoing regulatory oversight and emergency preparedness in safeguarding our natural resources for future generations.
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 Camp Grier Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Catawba R Nr Pleasant Gardens | 61 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 9 cfs | → |
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 3 cfs | → |
| South Toe River Near Celo | 40 cfs | → |
| Cove Creek Near Lake Lure | 36 cfs | → |
| Linville River Near Nebo | 24 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Camp Grier Dam.
Boat launches
- Houseboat Lane 299, Mcdowell County
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Hidden Cove Boat Ramp Mcdowell County
- Canal Bridge Boat Ramp Burke County
- Linville Boat Ramp
- Hooper Lane Mills River
Campgrounds
- Catawba Falls Campground, Llc
- Curtis Creek Campground
- Curtis Creek
- Blue Ridge Parkway Tent
- Bpw
- Briar Bottom Campground
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Nolichucky River
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
- Dillard Place
Paddle runs
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
Track Camp Grier 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 Camp Grier Dam
Where does the data for Camp Grier 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 Camp Grier Dam.