Sloop Lake Dam dam
Sloop Lake Dam
Sloop Lake Dam, located in Crossnore, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1922, this dam on the Linville River stands at a hydraulic height of 25 feet with a structural height matching that figure. With a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet and a surface area of 13 acres, Sloop Lake Dam plays a significant role in the region's water resource management.
Despite its age, the dam has been assessed as being in satisfactory condition as of its last inspection in March 2013. However, due to its significant hazard potential, regular inspections are conducted every two years to ensure its safety and stability. With the dam being under state jurisdiction and regulation by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, measures are in place to enforce compliance and address any maintenance or operational concerns that may arise. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sloop Lake Dam offers a fascinating example of how historical structures continue to play a vital role in managing water resources for recreational and environmental purposes in North Carolina.
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 Sloop Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Linville River Near Nebo | 17 cfs | → |
| Watauga River Near Sugar Grove | 38 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 72 cfs | → |
| South Toe River Near Celo | 33 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 12 cfs | → |
| Catawba R Nr Pleasant Gardens | 50 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sloop Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Price Lake Trail Watauga County
- Linville Boat Ramp
- Canal Bridge Boat Ramp Burke County
- Hidden Cove Boat Ramp Mcdowell County
- Houseboat Lane 299, Mcdowell County
- Moody Circle Carter County
Campgrounds
- Linville Falls Campground
- Linville Falls - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Linville Falls
- Buck Hill Campground
- Attic Window
- Alpine Meadow
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
Track Sloop 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 Sloop Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sloop 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 Significant 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 Sloop Lake Dam.