Donald Bell Dam dam
Donald Bell Dam
Donald Bell Dam, located in Cliffside, North Carolina, is a private earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. With a hydraulic height of 20.4 feet and a structural height of 27.5 feet, this dam spans 150 feet in length and holds a storage capacity of 33 acre-feet. The dam, situated on Branch Creek, was last inspected in February 2012 and was deemed to have a low hazard potential with a satisfactory condition assessment.
Despite not being regulated by the state, Donald Bell Dam offers a serene recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy. The dam's location in Rutherford County, North Carolina, provides a picturesque setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. With a surface area of 2.5 acres and a normal storage capacity of 16 acre-feet, the dam offers a peaceful retreat for visitors seeking tranquility in nature.
Although Donald Bell Dam may not be a prominent feature on the state's regulatory radar, its contribution to the local community as a recreational haven is undeniable. With its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition, the dam stands as a testament to responsible water resource management and a reminder of the beauty and serenity that can be found in the intersection of human engineering and natural landscapes.
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 Donald Bell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cove Creek Near Lake Lure | 33 cfs | → |
| Second Broad River Nr Logan | 31 cfs | → |
| North Pacolet River At Fingerville | 51 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Near Fingerville | 81 cfs | → |
| South Pacolet River Nr Campobello | 19 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Boiling Springs | 392 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Donald Bell Dam.
Boat launches
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Anchor Park
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- First Broad River Trail Shelby
- Houseboat Lane 299, Mcdowell County
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
Campgrounds
- River Creek Camp Ground
- Vein Mountain Gold Camp & Carolina Emerald Mine
- Lucky Strike Campground
- Creekside Mountain Camping
- Catawba Falls Campground, Llc
- Mad Mama's River Run Campground
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Anderson Branch
- Macedonia Lake
Paddle runs
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
Track Donald Bell 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 Donald Bell Dam
Where does the data for Donald Bell 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 Low 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 Donald Bell Dam.