Burgess Lake Dam dam
Burgess Lake Dam
Burgess Lake Dam, located in Whittier, North Carolina, serves as a vital structure for recreational purposes along Cullowhee Creek. Owned privately, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 25 feet with a length of 255 feet, providing a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet. Despite its significant hazard potential, recent inspections have deemed the dam's condition as unsatisfactory, warranting attention to ensure its safety and effectiveness in the long run.
The dam is regulated by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program under the NC Department of Environmental Quality, ensuring that state inspection and enforcement measures are in place. With a history of modifications and regular inspections, Burgess Lake Dam remains a key component in the water resource management of the region. However, its unsatisfactory condition highlights the importance of ongoing risk assessment and management measures to mitigate potential hazards and uphold safety standards for both the dam and surrounding areas.
As enthusiasts of water resources and climate, the significance of Burgess Lake Dam lies not only in its recreational value but also in its role in maintaining water storage and flow control along Cullowhee Creek. With a focus on safety and regulatory compliance, continued monitoring and maintenance will be essential to preserve the dam's functionality and prevent potential risks to the environment and communities downstream.
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 Burgess Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oconaluftee River At Birdtown | 215 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Barker's Creek | 290 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Bryson City | 667 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River At Needmore | 463 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee | 49 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burgess Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Church Street Jackson County
- Great Smoky Mountains Expressway 5453, Jackson County
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
- Cable Cove Road, Fontana Dam
- Cable Cove Road Graham County
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
Campgrounds
- Fort Wilderness Rv Park And Campground
- 51
- #51 George's Branch
- #46 Estes Branch
- Deep Creek Group Camp
- Deep Creek Campground
Fishing spots
- Bear Creek Lake
- Birchfield Branch
- Augerhole Branch
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Santeetlah Lake
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
Paddle runs
- Natahala Powerhouse To Lake Fontana (River Mile 4)
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
More reservoirs
Track Burgess Lake 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 Burgess Lake Dam
Where does the data for Burgess Lake 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 Significant 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 Burgess Lake Dam.