Whitmire Lake Dam Upper dam
Whitmire Lake Dam Upper
Whitmire Lake Dam Upper, located in Cherokee, North Carolina, is a private dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Built in 1955, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 30 feet with a hydraulic height of 27.7 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 36 acre-feet. The dam spans 185 feet in length and covers a surface area of 3 acres. While the dam is regulated and inspected by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, its condition assessment in 2012 was deemed poor, with a low hazard potential.
Despite its current condition, Whitmire Lake Dam Upper remains a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts seeking recreational activities such as fishing and boating. The dam's proximity to Brasstown Creek-Tr offers visitors a picturesque setting to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. While the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are not fully detailed in the data, ongoing assessments and inspections ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Whitmire Lake Dam Upper serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring our infrastructure to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
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 Whitmire Lake Dam Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Valley River At Tomotla | 110 cfs | → |
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 77 cfs | → |
| Toccoa River Near Dial | 265 cfs | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 256 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 119 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River At Helen | 67 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whitmire Lake Dam Upper.
Boat launches
- Hiwassee Street Murphy
- Payne Street Murphy
- Nottely Dam Road Union County
- Ramsey Bend South Cherokee County
- Hanging Dog Campground Road 1881, Murphy
- Watts Place South Union County
Campgrounds
- Hanging Dog
- Poteete Creek
- Fires Creek Hunt Camp
- Fires Creek Hunters Camp
- Gibson Cove - Chatuge Reservoir
- Gibson Cove Campground
Fishing spots
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Tellico River
- Dockery Lake
- Noontootla Creek Farms
- Santeetlah Lake
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Source Near Chattahoochee Gap To Mark Trail Wilderness Boundary
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Mark Trail Wilderness Boundry To Old Turnpike Crossing Near Vandiver Branch
- Old Turnpike Crossing To Martin Branch Bridge
Track Whitmire Lake Dam Upper 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 Whitmire Lake Dam Upper
Where does the data for Whitmire Lake Dam Upper 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 Low 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 Whitmire Lake Dam Upper.