Ridgeway Dam dam
Ridgeway Dam
Ridgeway Dam, also known as Freeman Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Buncombe, North Carolina, along the French Broad River-Tr. Designed by the USDA NRCS, this earth-type dam stands at a structural height of 21 feet and has a length of 294 feet. Its primary purpose is for recreation, offering a surface area of 9.8 acres and a storage capacity of 10 acre-feet.
Despite being privately owned, Ridgeway Dam is regulated by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, ensuring that it meets inspection, permitting, and enforcement requirements. The dam's hazard potential is deemed significant, with a condition assessment of fair as of the last inspection in May 2015. With a moderate risk rating, the dam is equipped with uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates.
As a notable feature along the French Broad River, Ridgeway Dam serves as a recreational destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With its picturesque location and historical significance, the dam offers visitors a glimpse into North Carolina's water management infrastructure while providing opportunities for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and picnicking.
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 Ridgeway Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ivy River Near Marshall | 52 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Marshall | 723 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Asheville | 602 cfs | → |
| Swannanoa River At Biltmore | 28 cfs | → |
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 3 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Hot Springs | 693 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ridgeway Dam.
Boat launches
- Redmon Road Madison County
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- French Broad Boat Launch
- Mitchell County
Campgrounds
- Evan's Island Campsite
- Campfire Lodgings
- Windy Gap - A Young Life Camp
- Big Pine Campsite
- Silvermine Group Campground
- Rocky Bluff
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 100.6) To Mine Branch (Rm 99.3)
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
Track Ridgeway 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 Ridgeway Dam
Where does the data for Ridgeway 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 Ridgeway Dam.