Moravian Camp Lake Dam dam
Moravian Camp Lake Dam
Moravian Camp Lake Dam, located in Ashe, North Carolina, is a private earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS for recreational purposes. Standing at a structural height of 42 feet with a hydraulic height of 35 feet, this dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 47 acre-feet in the picturesque Peak Creek area. The dam, built on a stone core foundation and surrounded by soil, covers a surface area of 2 acres and has a drainage area of 42 acres.
Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, Moravian Camp Lake Dam is regulated by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program and undergoes regular inspections for enforcement and permitting. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a maximum discharge capacity of 840 cubic feet per second. While the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks detailed emergency action plans, inundation maps, and risk management measures. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the complexities of this dam's operations and potential risks is crucial for ensuring the safety of surrounding communities and recreational users.
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 Moravian Camp Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork New River Near Jefferson | 130 cfs | → |
| Reddies River At North Wilkesboro | 29 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Wilkesboro | 308 cfs | → |
| Elk Creek At Elkville | 23 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Elkin | 532 cfs | → |
| New River Near Galax | 535 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Moravian Camp Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Nc 16 3350, Jefferson
- Farmers Fish Camp Road Alleghany County
- Old River Lane 998, Grayson County
- Cox's Chapel Road Grayson County
- Castle Ford Road Ashe County
- River Road Watauga County
Campgrounds
- Wild Woody’S Campground
- Mountain Side Campground & Cabins
- Miller's Campground
- Doughton Park - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Racoon Holler Campground
- Peaks Groupsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
- Green Cove--Jefferson Nf Near Confluence Of Star Hill Branch To Confluence With Whitetop Laurel
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
Track Moravian Camp Lake 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 Moravian Camp Lake Dam
Where does the data for Moravian Camp 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 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 Moravian Camp Lake Dam.