North Shore Lake Dam Dam
North Shore Lake Dam
North Shore Lake Dam, located in East Fork, North Carolina, is a private dam primarily used for recreation purposes. The dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Dam Safety Program and is subject to regular inspections, enforcement, and permitting. With a significant hazard potential and a poor condition assessment as of 2017, the dam poses a potential risk to the surrounding area.
The dam, constructed with an earth core type, stands at a hydraulic height of 36 feet and a structural height of 41 feet, with a dam length of 230 feet. It has a storage capacity of 81 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 35 square miles. Despite its poor condition assessment, the dam remains a popular spot for recreational activities such as boating and fishing, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts to its picturesque surroundings.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts visit North Shore Lake Dam for leisure and exploration, it is essential to recognize the regulatory oversight and potential risks associated with this private structure. With its location in the Bradley Creek watershed and its proximity to the Nashville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, efforts to maintain and improve the dam's safety and functionality are crucial to ensuring the long-term sustainability of this recreational water resource.
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 North Shore Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River At Rosman | 89 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 49 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 20 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 340 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near North Shore Lake Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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More reservoirs
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About North Shore Lake Dam
Where does the data for North Shore 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 below 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.
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.