Potato Hill Lake dam
Potato Hill Lake
Potato Hill Lake, also known as Tater Hill Lake, is a picturesque reservoir located in Todd, North Carolina, within Watauga County. This state-owned lake was completed in 1948 and serves as a popular recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With a primary purpose of recreation, Potato Hill Lake offers visitors a tranquil setting to enjoy activities like fishing, boating, and picnicking in a beautiful natural environment.
The dam at Potato Hill Lake is an earth structure with a hydraulic height of 12 feet and a structural height of 18 feet. The reservoir has a maximum storage capacity of 52 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 43 acre-feet, providing ample water for recreational use. Despite its high hazard potential, the condition of the dam is currently not rated, with the last inspection conducted in November 2020.
Surrounded by the serene Howards Creek and nestled in the stunning landscapes of Watauga County, Potato Hill Lake offers a peaceful retreat for outdoor enthusiasts seeking to connect with nature. Whether you're looking to relax by the water's edge or engage in water-based activities, this charming lake is a must-visit destination for those who appreciate the beauty and importance of water resources in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Potato Hill Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Watauga River Near Sugar Grove | 38 cfs | → |
| South Fork New River Near Jefferson | 130 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 12 cfs | → |
| Elk Creek At Elkville | 23 cfs | → |
| S F Holston River Near Damascus | 151 cfs | → |
| Doe River At Elizabethton | 293 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Potato Hill Lake.
Boat launches
- Roby Green Road Watauga County
- Big Hill Road Watauga County
- River Road Watauga County
- Stuart Williams Road Watauga County
- Castle Ford Road Ashe County
- Price Lake Trail Watauga County
Campgrounds
- Honey Bear Campground
- Old Johns River Road
- Goshen Creek
- Price Park Campground
- Julian Price - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Julian Price
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Green Cove--Jefferson Nf Near Confluence Of Star Hill Branch To Confluence With Whitetop Laurel
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
Track Potato Hill Lake 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 Potato Hill Lake
Where does the data for Potato Hill Lake 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 Potato Hill Lake.