Phillips Dam dam
Phillips Dam
Phillips Dam, also known as Leonard Phillips Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Robbinsville, North Carolina. Situated along Tulula Creek-Trib, this earth dam serves a primary purpose of recreation, offering a serene environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy. With a hydraulic height of 25.6 feet and a structural height of 30.5 feet, Phillips Dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 22 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 2.4 acres.
Despite its recreational appeal, Phillips Dam poses a high hazard potential and is classified as being in fair condition as of the last inspection in January 2018. The dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring that it meets state inspection and enforcement standards. With a drainage area of 67 square miles and a maximum discharge rate of 185 cubic feet per second, Phillips Dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and providing essential water resources to the surrounding area.
As a key feature in the Nashville District, Phillips Dam offers a picturesque setting for outdoor activities and serves as a vital part of the local water infrastructure. With its rich history and ongoing maintenance, Phillips Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate resilience 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 Phillips Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 141 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River At Needmore | 463 cfs | → |
| Valley River At Tomotla | 116 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 121 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Bryson City | 667 cfs | → |
| Little River Above Townsend | 122 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Phillips Dam.
Boat launches
- Massey Branch Road 1184, Robbinsville
- Joyce Kilmer Road 1986, Graham County
- Joyce Kilmer Road 1920, Robbinsville
- Cable Cove Road Graham County
- Cable Cove Road, Fontana Dam
- Fontana Road 12574, Robbinsville
Campgrounds
- Cheoah Point Recreation Area
- Cheoah Point
- Cheoah Point Campground
- Snowbird Camping
- Ledbetter Creek Camp
- Rattler Ford Campground
Fishing spots
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Santeetlah Lake
- Augerhole Branch
- Birchfield Branch
- Indian Boundary Lake
- Citico Creek
Paddle runs
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Natahala Powerhouse To Lake Fontana (River Mile 4)
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
Track Phillips 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 Phillips Dam
Where does the data for Phillips 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 Phillips Dam.