Mother Earth Lake Dam Upper dam
Mother Earth Lake Dam Upper
Mother Earth Lake Dam Upper, located in Blantyre, North Carolina, is a private earth dam situated on Gash Creek with a primary purpose of recreation. With a hydraulic height of 29.8 feet and a structural height of 33 feet, this dam provides a storage capacity of 23 acre-feet, offering a tranquil surface area of 1.5 acres for recreational activities. The dam, regulated by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program, has been assessed to be in fair condition as of May 2018, with a significant hazard potential.
Owned privately, Mother Earth Lake Dam Upper is a key feature in the surrounding Transylvania County landscape, contributing to the local ecosystem and providing recreational opportunities for visitors. Despite its fair condition, the dam is subject to regular inspections and enforcement by state regulatory agencies to ensure the safety of both the structure and the environment. The dam's association with Gash Creek adds to its allure, creating a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts and water resource aficionados alike.
With a history that dates back to an unknown completion year, Mother Earth Lake Dam Upper continues to be a focal point for residents and visitors in the area. Its role in recreation and water storage, along with its significant hazard potential and state regulation, highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures in the face of changing climate conditions. As a beloved feature in the North Carolina landscape, this dam serves as a testament to the delicate balance between human enjoyment and environmental stewardship in our ever-evolving world.
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 Mother Earth Lake Dam Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 260 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 32 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 49 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 447 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 18 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Rosman | 56 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mother Earth Lake Dam Upper.
Boat launches
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
Campgrounds
- Davidson River Recreation Area
- Davidson River Campground
- Davidson River
- White Pines Group Campground
- North Mills River
- North Mills River Campground
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bear Creek Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
- Presbyterian Lake
Paddle runs
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
Track Mother Earth Lake Dam Upper 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 Mother Earth Lake Dam Upper
Where does the data for Mother Earth Lake Dam Upper 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 Mother Earth Lake Dam Upper.