Lake Charles Dam dam
Lake Charles Dam
Lake Charles Dam, also known as French Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Macon, North Carolina, near the city of Franklin. The dam, built on Tessentee Creek-Tr, serves the primary purpose of recreation and stands at a hydraulic height of 21 feet with a structural height of 27 feet. It has a storage capacity of 16 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 7 acre-feet and a surface area of 1.5 acres.
Despite its recreational focus, Lake Charles Dam poses a high hazard potential and is classified as being in fair condition as of the last assessment in January 2018. The dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program and undergoes regular inspections every two years. The Savannah District of the US Army Corps of Engineers has jurisdiction over the dam, with no federal agency ownership or funding associated with its operation.
With its scenic location and importance for recreational activities, Lake Charles Dam serves as a vital water resource in the region. However, its high hazard potential underscores the importance of ongoing maintenance and monitoring to ensure the safety of both the dam structure and the surrounding community. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find the dam's design and operational details intriguing, as well as the regulatory oversight and risk management measures in place to safeguard its integrity.
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 Lake Charles Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 169 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 119 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Near Clayton | 72 cfs | → |
| Chattooga River Near Clayton | 243 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Charles Dam.
Boat launches
- Great Smoky Mountains Expressway 5453, Jackson County
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- Lake Rabun Road Rabun County
- Jackrabbit Boating Access
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
Campgrounds
- Van Hook Glade Campground
- Van Hook Glade
- Blue Valley Camp
- Hurricane Creek Horse & Primitive Campground
- Blue Valley Dispersed Camping
- Standing Indian Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Ga/Nc State Line To 2 Miles Downriver
- Highway 28 To Earl's Ford (Section 2)
- Burrels Ford To Lick Log Branch (Section 1)
- Earl's Ford To Route 76 (Section 3)
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
Track Lake Charles 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 Lake Charles Dam
Where does the data for Lake Charles 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 Lake Charles Dam.