Burningtown Lake Dam dam
Burningtown Lake Dam
Burningtown Lake Dam in Macon, North Carolina, is a picturesque Earth dam built in 1970 primarily for recreational purposes. Nestled along Daves Creek, this dam boasts a hydraulic height of 28.7 feet and a structural height of 35 feet, creating a serene 4-acre surface area for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. Despite its fair condition assessment as of November 2018, the dam poses a high hazard potential, prompting biennial inspections to ensure public safety.
Managed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Burningtown Lake Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to uphold stringent safety standards. With a maximum storage capacity of 56 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 31 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management within its 85-acre drainage area. While the dam's last inspection in November 2018 revealed its fair condition, ongoing monitoring and risk assessment measures are essential to mitigate potential hazards and safeguard the surrounding community in Stiles.
In the event of an emergency, the dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) remains crucial for effective response and communication. While the EAP was last revised in June 2011, it is imperative that the plan meets established guidelines and is regularly updated to align with current risk assessments and management measures. As Burningtown Lake Dam continues to serve as a vital recreational and water resource asset, proactive maintenance and emergency preparedness efforts are paramount to ensure the dam's safe operation and protect the local environment and residents from potential risks.
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 Burningtown Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Tennessee River At Needmore | 463 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 174 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 121 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Bryson City | 667 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burningtown Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Great Smoky Mountains Expressway 5453, Jackson County
- Church Street Jackson County
- Cable Cove Road, Fontana Dam
- Cable Cove Road Graham County
- Massey Branch Road 1184, Robbinsville
- Jackrabbit Boating Access
⛺ Campgrounds
- Wine Spring Campsite
- Lost Mine Camp Ground
- Moore Creek Camp
- Appletree Group Campground
- Appletree Group Camp
- Turkey Creek Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Augerhole Branch
- Birchfield Branch
- Santeetlah Lake
- Bear Creek Lake
🛶 Paddle runs
- Natahala Powerhouse To Lake Fontana (River Mile 4)
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Ga/Nc State Line To 2 Miles Downriver
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
Track Burningtown 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 Burningtown Lake Dam
Where does the data for Burningtown 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 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 Burningtown Lake Dam.