Mars Hill Water Supply Dam dam
Mars Hill Water Supply Dam
The Mars Hill Water Supply Dam, located in Faust, North Carolina, serves as a crucial water supply resource for the local community. Constructed in 1958, this Earth-type dam stands at a structural height of 48.5 feet and has a hydraulic height of 40.5 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 30 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 40 acre-feet, the dam plays a vital role in providing water to residents in the area.
Situated on Big Laurel Creek within Madison County, the Mars Hill Water Supply Dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. With a high hazard potential, the dam underwent its last inspection in June 2014, where it was assessed as being in satisfactory condition. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in November 2009, highlighting the importance of ongoing safety measures and preparedness.
Overall, the Mars Hill Water Supply Dam serves as a critical infrastructure to ensure reliable access to water resources for the local community. With its strategic location on Big Laurel Creek and adherence to state regulatory standards, the dam continues to play a central role in water supply management in the region.
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 Mars Hill Water Supply Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ivy River Near Marshall | 55 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Marshall | 772 cfs | → |
| Nolichucky River At Embreeville | 2,020 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Hot Springs | 736 cfs | → |
| South Toe River Near Celo | 40 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mars Hill Water Supply Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Spivey Gap Recreation Area
- Windy Gap - A Young Life Camp
- Old Forge Recreation Area
- Old Forge
- Old Forge Campground
- Horse Creek Rec Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 100.6) To Mine Branch (Rm 99.3)
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
Track Mars Hill Water Supply 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 Mars Hill Water Supply Dam
Where does the data for Mars Hill Water Supply 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 Mars Hill Water Supply Dam.