Gimlin Dam dam
Gimlin Dam
Gimlin Dam, located in Ashe, North Carolina, serves as a vital recreational resource along the picturesque Obids Creek. Owned privately, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 13.7 feet and a structural height of 17 feet, with a dam length spanning 400 feet. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam offers a serene environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy outdoor activities in a beautiful natural setting.
Despite its scenic appeal, Gimlin Dam poses a high hazard potential and has been assessed to be in poor condition as of August 2020. With a storage capacity of 15 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.2 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and providing a habitat for various wildlife species in the area. However, its current state of disrepair raises concerns about its long-term sustainability and the potential risks it may pose to the surrounding community.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to appreciate the beauty of Gimlin Dam, efforts towards improving its condition and ensuring its safety are essential. With state regulation and inspection in place, along with the involvement of various agencies, the future of this recreational gem relies on proactive maintenance and risk management measures to safeguard its integrity for generations to come.
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 Gimlin Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork New River Near Jefferson | 132 cfs | → |
| Reddies River At North Wilkesboro | 30 cfs | → |
| Elk Creek At Elkville | 24 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Wilkesboro | 328 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 13 cfs | → |
| Lower Little River Nr All Healing Springs | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gimlin Dam.
Boat launches
- Nc 16 3350, Jefferson
- Castle Ford Road Ashe County
- River Road Watauga County
- Stuart Williams Road Watauga County
- Big Hill Road Watauga County
- Roby Green Road Watauga County
Campgrounds
- Obids Creek Campsite
- Racoon Holler Campground
- Rendezvous Mountain Group Camp
- Peaks Groupsite
- Peaks 61
- Deep Gap Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Green Cove--Jefferson Nf Near Confluence Of Star Hill Branch To Confluence With Whitetop Laurel
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
Track Gimlin 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 Gimlin Dam
Where does the data for Gimlin 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 Gimlin Dam.