Cranberry Dam dam
Cranberry Dam
Cranberry Dam, located in Elk Park, North Carolina, is a private earth dam primarily used for irrigation purposes along Cranberry Creek-Os. The dam stands at a hydraulic height of 36.3 feet and a structural height of 58 feet, with a length of 408 feet. It has a maximum storage capacity of 44 acre-feet and normal storage of 7 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 0.5 acres. Although the dam is not state-regulated, it is subject to periodic inspections, with the last assessment conducted in April 2006 deeming its condition as satisfactory.
Despite its private ownership, Cranberry Dam poses a significant hazard potential due to its size and location. However, the dam's condition remains satisfactory, and it meets the guidelines for emergency action plans. While the dam has not undergone any significant modifications since its completion, it is crucial for stakeholders to continue monitoring and managing the risks associated with this structure to ensure the safety and integrity of the surrounding area. The dam's proximity to a residential community underscores the importance of proactive risk assessment and management measures.
In the realm of water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cranberry Dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intricate balance between human needs for irrigation and the potential environmental risks associated with dam infrastructure. As a key component of the local water management system, the dam's role in regulating water flow and storage demands careful attention to ensure sustainable resource use and mitigate potential hazards. Continued monitoring, inspection, and risk assessment efforts are vital to maintaining the dam's functionality while safeguarding the surrounding ecosystem and community from adverse impacts of a dam failure.
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 Cranberry Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Watauga River Near Sugar Grove | 38 cfs | → |
| Doe River At Elizabethton | 293 cfs | → |
| Watauga River At Elizabethton | 1,390 cfs | → |
| Linville River Near Nebo | 17 cfs | → |
| South Toe River Near Celo | 33 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cranberry Dam.
Boat launches
- Moody Circle Carter County
- Price Lake Trail Watauga County
- Us 321;Sr 67 Carter County
- Wilbur Dam Road Carter County
- Sink Mountain Launch Road Johnson County
- Lovers Lane 338, Carter County
Campgrounds
- Mountain View Motorcycle Campground
- Mountaineer Shelter
- Upper Laurel Fork
- Roan Mountain State Park
- Attic Window
- Profile
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
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
Track Cranberry 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 Cranberry Dam
Where does the data for Cranberry 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 Cranberry Dam.