Linville Ridge Dam dam
Linville Ridge Dam
Linville Ridge Dam, located in Linville, North Carolina, is a privately-owned structure built in 1981 for the primary purpose of irrigation. Situated on the West Fork Linville River, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 38.5 feet and a structural height of 43 feet, with a length of 200 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 24 acre-feet, with normal storage at 17 acre-feet and a surface area of 1.5 acres.
Managed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Linville Ridge Dam is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections, with the most recent one conducted in June 2019, revealing a satisfactory condition assessment. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is considered to be in good operational standing. It is monitored for compliance with state regulations and enforcement measures are in place to ensure public safety.
This essential water resource infrastructure not only supports agricultural activities through irrigation but also serves as a critical component of the local ecosystem. With its strategic location and effective management, Linville Ridge Dam plays a vital role in water conservation and management in the region, highlighting the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
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 Linville Ridge Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Watauga River Near Sugar Grove | 38 cfs | → |
| Yadkin River At Patterson | 12 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 74 cfs | → |
| Linville River Near Nebo | 18 cfs | → |
| Doe River At Elizabethton | 293 cfs | → |
| South Toe River Near Celo | 36 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Linville Ridge Dam.
Boat launches
- Price Lake Trail Watauga County
- Roby Green Road Watauga County
- Moody Circle Carter County
- Stuart Williams Road Watauga County
- Sink Mountain Launch Road Johnson County
- River Road Watauga County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
Track Linville Ridge 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 Linville Ridge Dam
Where does the data for Linville Ridge 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 Linville Ridge Dam.