Old Blowing Rock Water Supply dam
Old Blowing Rock Water Supply
Old Blowing Rock Water Supply is a crucial water resource in Boone, North Carolina, serving as a primary source of water supply for the local community. The dam, completed in 1958, stands at a hydraulic height of 32.3 feet and a structural height of 33.5 feet, with a storage capacity of 76 acre-feet. Situated on Flat Top Branch, the dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region, with a normal storage capacity of 61 acre-feet and a drainage area of 340 acres.
Owned by the local government and regulated by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, Old Blowing Rock Water Supply is classified as a high hazard potential dam. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is in satisfactory condition, as per the latest inspection in March 2021. With a spillway type not specified and a maximum discharge capacity of 725 cubic feet per second, the dam is equipped to handle varying water flow conditions and ensure the safety of the surrounding area. Overall, Old Blowing Rock Water Supply is a critical infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in Watauga County.
With Virginia Foxx as the representative for the congressional district, Old Blowing Rock Water Supply exemplifies the intersection of infrastructure, governance, and environmental stewardship. As a state-regulated and permitted dam with a history of safe operations, the facility underscores the importance of proactive monitoring and maintenance in ensuring water security and mitigating potential risks. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the role of dams like Old Blowing Rock Water Supply is key to advancing sustainable water management practices and building resilience in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Old Blowing Rock Water Supply -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Watauga River Near Sugar Grove | 38 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 12 cfs | → |
| Elk Creek At Elkville | 23 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 72 cfs | → |
| South Fork New River Near Jefferson | 124 cfs | → |
| Linville River Near Nebo | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Old Blowing Rock Water Supply.
Boat launches
- Price Lake Trail Watauga County
- Roby Green Road Watauga County
- Stuart Williams Road Watauga County
- River Road Watauga County
- Big Hill Road Watauga County
- Castle Ford Road Ashe County
Campgrounds
- Old Johns River Road
- Price Park Campground
- Goshen Creek
- Honey Bear Campground
- Julian Price - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Julian Price
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
Track Old Blowing Rock Water Supply 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 Old Blowing Rock Water Supply
Where does the data for Old Blowing Rock Water Supply 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 Old Blowing Rock Water Supply.