Lake Lewthorne Dam Dam
Lake Lewthorne Dam
Lake Lewthorne Dam, located in Fletcher, North Carolina, is a private-owned earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. The dam stands at a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a structural height of 22 feet, with a length of 405 feet. It impounds Kimsey Branch, creating Lake Lewthorne with a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet and a surface area of 1.8 acres.
The dam is under the regulatory oversight of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring that it meets state inspection and enforcement requirements. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2014 rated it as fair. The emergency action plan for the dam was last revised in 2018, although specific details regarding its compliance with guidelines and risk management measures are not provided in the data.
Lake Lewthorne Dam serves as a vital recreational resource in Buncombe County and presents a unique opportunity for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the intersection of infrastructure, water management, and environmental stewardship. The dam's location near the city of Fletcher, surrounded by the natural beauty of North Carolina, offers a picturesque setting for visitors to enjoy outdoor activities and connect with the local ecosystem.
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 Lewthorne Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 470 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 52 cfs | → |
| Swannanoa River At Biltmore | 31 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Asheville | 703 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 329 cfs | → |
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Lewthorne Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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More reservoirs
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About Lake Lewthorne Dam
Where does the data for Lake Lewthorne 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 below 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.
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.