Morganton Watershed Dam dam
Morganton Watershed Dam
The Morganton Watershed Dam, located in Morganton, North Carolina, serves as a critical water supply infrastructure for the area. Built in 1939, this concrete gravity dam stands at a structural height of 31 feet and has a length of 140 feet. With a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet, the dam plays a vital role in managing water resources for the region, drawing from the Henry River and covering a surface area of 24 acres.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, the Morganton Watershed Dam has been inspected regularly, with the last assessment conducted in April 2019. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition. While there have been no reported modifications in recent years, the dam remains a key asset for water supply purposes in the region.
With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, the Morganton Watershed Dam plays a crucial role in ensuring water security for the residents of Burke County. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and monitoring of this dam will be essential to safeguarding the community against potential risks and emergencies.
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 Morganton Watershed Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Jacob Fork At Ramsey | 15 cfs | → |
| First Broad River Near Casar | 34 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 153 cfs | → |
| Linville River Near Nebo | 95 cfs | → |
| Henry Fork Near Henry River | 39 cfs | → |
| Second Broad River Nr Logan | 69 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Morganton Watershed Dam.
Boat launches
- Hidden Cove Boat Ramp Mcdowell County
- Canal Bridge Boat Ramp Burke County
- Linville Boat Ramp
- Houseboat Lane 299, Mcdowell County
- Weaver Lane Burke County
- Gunpowder Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Murray Branch Campground
- Fox Trail Campground
- Shinny Falls Campground
- Sawtooth Campground
- Upper Falls Campground
- Little River Campground
Fishing spots
- Benfield Creek
- Blood Creek
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Nolichucky River
- Watauga River
Paddle runs
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
Track Morganton Watershed 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 Morganton Watershed Dam
Where does the data for Morganton Watershed 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 Morganton Watershed Dam.