Hiwassee Dam dam
Hiwassee Dam
Hiwassee Dam, located on the Hiwassee River in North Carolina, is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 248 feet and a hydraulic height of 254 feet. Completed in 1940 by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the dam serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, navigation, and recreation. With a normal storage capacity of 398,583 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 471,954 acre-feet, Hiwassee Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
The dam has undergone several modifications over the years to enhance its structural integrity, including seismic and structural upgrades in the early 1990s and ongoing maintenance in the following decades. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected by TVA to ensure its safety and reliability. Hiwassee Dam's controlled spillway, Tainter radial outlet gates, and proximity to the Savannah District of the US Army Corps of Engineers highlight its importance in water resource management and flood control efforts in the area.
With a very high risk assessment rating, Hiwassee Dam remains a critical infrastructure for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor and study. The dam's location on the Hiwassee River, its significant storage capacity, and its multi-purpose design make it a key component in the region's water management system. As climate change continues to impact water resources, understanding and maintaining structures like Hiwassee Dam will be essential in ensuring the safety and sustainability of water supplies for the surrounding communities.
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 Hiwassee Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Valley River At Tomotla | 110 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 122 cfs | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 256 cfs | → |
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 136 cfs | → |
| Toccoa River Near Dial | 265 cfs | → |
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 77 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hiwassee Dam.
Boat launches
- Hiwassee Dam Access Road 4692, Murphy
- Micken Branch Cherokee County
- Joe Brown Highway 8240, Murphy
- Hanging Dog Campground Road 1881, Murphy
- Ramsey Bend South Cherokee County
- Payne Street Murphy
Campgrounds
- Hanging Dog
- Holly Flats
- Rough Ridge Campground
- Holly Flats Campground
- Big Oak Cove
- Big Oak Cove Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 48.0) To Tn360 Bridge (Rm 30.0)
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
Track Hiwassee 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 Hiwassee Dam
Where does the data for Hiwassee 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 Hiwassee Dam.