Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #1 dam
Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #1
Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #1, located in Mitchell County, North Carolina, serves as a critical water supply infrastructure managed by the local government. This concrete gravity dam stands at a hydraulic height of 42 feet, with a structural height of 47 feet and a length of 195 feet. The dam has a maximum storage capacity of 50 acre-feet, providing water for the city of Spruce Pine and surrounding areas.
With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017, Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #1 undergoes regular inspections every two years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam is state-regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, demonstrating adherence to strict regulatory standards for operation and maintenance. Despite its critical importance in providing water supply, the dam has no associated spillway or outlet gates, highlighting the importance of proactive management and monitoring to mitigate potential risks.
As an essential component of the water supply infrastructure in the region, Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #1 exemplifies the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience. Its location on Beaver Creek and its capacity to store 50 acre-feet of water play a crucial role in meeting the water needs of the community. By upholding state regulations, conducting regular inspections, and ensuring the dam's structural integrity, local authorities demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding this vital resource for current and future generations.
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 Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Toe River Near Celo | 33 cfs | → |
| Linville River Near Nebo | 17 cfs | → |
| Catawba R Nr Pleasant Gardens | 50 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 72 cfs | → |
| Watauga River Near Sugar Grove | 38 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #1.
Boat launches
- Linville Boat Ramp
- Houseboat Lane 299, Mcdowell County
- Canal Bridge Boat Ramp Burke County
- Mitchell County
- Hidden Cove Boat Ramp Mcdowell County
- Price Lake Trail Watauga County
Campgrounds
- Buck Hill Campground
- Saylor Lake Rv Park
- Linville Falls
- Linville Falls - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Linville Falls Campground
- Lil Rock Creek Campground
Fishing spots
- Nolichucky River
- Watauga River
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Dillard Place
- Anderson Branch
Paddle runs
- 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
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
Track Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #1 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 Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #1
Where does the data for Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #1 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 Spruce Pine Water Supply Dam #1.