Whitmire Lake Dam Lower dam
Whitmire Lake Dam Lower
Whitmire Lake Dam Lower, located in Cherokee, North Carolina, is a private dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1955, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 37 feet and a hydraulic height of 34.3 feet, creating a lake with a maximum storage capacity of 60 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is currently in poor condition, as assessed in January 2012.
The dam is regulated and inspected by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring that it meets state safety standards. Whitmire Lake Dam Lower spans 155 feet in length and covers a surface area of 4 acres, providing a scenic recreational spot for visitors to enjoy. While the dam may require maintenance to improve its condition, it continues to offer opportunities for outdoor activities such as boating and fishing on Brasstown Creek-Tr.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data on Whitmire Lake Dam Lower serves as a reminder of the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety and sustainability of dams in our communities. With proper care and oversight, these structures can continue to provide recreational benefits while protecting surrounding areas from potential hazards.
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 Lower -- 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 Lower.
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
- Dockery Lake
- Tellico River
- 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 Lower 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 Lower
Where does the data for Whitmire Lake Dam Lower 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 Lower.