Lenoir Water Supply Dam dam
Lenoir Water Supply Dam
The Lenoir Water Supply Dam, located in Lenoir, North Carolina, is a vital infrastructure owned by the local government for water supply purposes. This concrete gravity dam on Zacks Fork Creek-Tr was completed in 1924 and has a structural height of 27 feet. With a drainage area of 530 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 27 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in providing water to the surrounding area.
Despite its age, the Lenoir Water Supply Dam is in good condition and has a high hazard potential. Inspected in 2007, the dam has not been rated for its current condition. Although not regulated by the state, the dam is under periodic inspection to ensure its safety and reliability. With its proximity to Congress District 05 in North Carolina and a maximum discharge of 333 cubic feet per second, the dam remains a key component of the local water supply infrastructure.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find the Lenoir Water Supply Dam an intriguing structure that highlights the importance of proper water management in communities. Its historical significance, combined with its essential role in providing water to the area, makes it a noteworthy site for those interested in the intersection of water resources, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship.
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 Lenoir Water Supply Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 12 cfs | → |
| Elk Creek At Elkville | 23 cfs | → |
| Lower Little River Nr All Healing Springs | 8 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 72 cfs | → |
| Henry Fork Near Henry River | 24 cfs | → |
| Reddies River At North Wilkesboro | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lenoir Water Supply Dam.
Boat launches
- Gunpowder Boat Ramp
- Weaver Lane Burke County
- Price Lake Trail Watauga County
- Stuart Williams Road Watauga County
- Roby Green Road Watauga County
- River Road Watauga County
Campgrounds
- Boone Fork Campground
- Fulda Gap / Cef Dragoons Hq
- Goshen Creek
- Mortimer Campground
- Mortimer
- Deep Gap Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
Track Lenoir Water Supply 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 Lenoir Water Supply Dam
Where does the data for Lenoir Water Supply 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 Lenoir Water Supply Dam.