Phillips Lake Dam dam
Phillips Lake Dam
Phillips Lake Dam, also known as Sam Phillips Dam, is a private-owned structure located in McDowell County, North Carolina. The dam was completed in 1902 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. Situated on Toms Creek in the city of Garden Creek, the dam has a hydraulic height of 28.9 feet and a structural height of 37.5 feet, with a storage capacity of 800 acre-feet and a surface area of 40 acres.
Despite being privately owned, Phillips Lake Dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Dam Safety Program. The dam has a high hazard potential, but as of the last inspection in May 2015, it was deemed to be in satisfactory condition. The Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in April 2009, and it meets the required guidelines for emergency preparedness.
Its location in a scenic area with ample recreational opportunities makes Phillips Lake Dam a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With its long history dating back to the early 20th century, the dam continues to provide a serene and enjoyable environment for visitors to relax and appreciate the natural beauty of North Carolina's landscape.
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 Phillips Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Catawba R Nr Pleasant Gardens | 118 cfs | → |
| Linville River Near Nebo | 95 cfs | → |
| South Toe River Near Celo | 81 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 32 cfs | → |
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 10 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 153 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Phillips Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Houseboat Lane 299, Mcdowell County
- Hidden Cove Boat Ramp Mcdowell County
- Canal Bridge Boat Ramp Burke County
- Linville Boat Ramp
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Mitchell County
Campgrounds
- Mad Mama's River Run Campground
- Crabtree Meadows - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Crabtree Falls Campground
- Lake James State Park
- Curtis Creek
- Curtis Creek Campground
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Nolichucky River
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
- Watauga River
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
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 100.6) To Mine Branch (Rm 99.3)
Track Phillips 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 Phillips Lake Dam
Where does the data for Phillips 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 Phillips Lake Dam.