Upper Tanglewood Dam dam
Upper Tanglewood Dam
Upper Tanglewood Dam, also known as Blatt Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Murphy, North Carolina. Completed in 1974, this earth dam serves primarily for recreation purposes on the Valley River-Tr. With a hydraulic height of 27.5 feet and a structural height of 31 feet, it offers a maximum storage capacity of 25 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 18 acre-feet.
Despite its recreational significance, Upper Tanglewood Dam poses a high hazard potential and has been assessed to be in poor condition as of February 2018. The dam has a history of state regulation, inspection, and enforcement by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, indicating a commitment to ensuring public safety and compliance with regulatory standards. While the dam lacks certain features such as spillways and outlet gates, its association with the Savannah District of the US Army Corps of Engineers suggests a broader oversight framework for its operation and maintenance.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the Upper Tanglewood Dam would find its location in Cherokee County, North Carolina, along with its historical significance and potential risks intriguing. The dam's proximity to the Valley River-Tr and its role in providing recreational opportunities make it a focal point for environmental conservation efforts and ongoing monitoring. With the dam's outdated inspection records and lack of emergency action plans, there is a call for improved risk assessment and management measures to safeguard the surrounding community and natural environment from any 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 Upper Tanglewood Dam -- 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 | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 256 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 122 cfs | → |
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 136 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 119 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Tanglewood Dam.
Boat launches
- Payne Street Murphy
- Hiwassee Street Murphy
- Hanging Dog Campground Road 1881, Murphy
- Ramsey Bend South Cherokee County
- Joe Brown Highway 8240, Murphy
- Micken Branch Cherokee County
Campgrounds
- Hanging Dog
- Fires Creek Hunt Camp
- Fires Creek Hunters Camp
- State Line Campground
- Rough Ridge Campground
- State Line
Fishing spots
- Tellico River
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Santeetlah Lake
- Indian Boundary Lake
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Citico Creek
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 48.0) To Tn360 Bridge (Rm 30.0)
Track Upper Tanglewood 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 Upper Tanglewood Dam
Where does the data for Upper Tanglewood 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 Upper Tanglewood Dam.