Gaetani Dam dam
Gaetani Dam
Gaetani Dam, located in Fletcher, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure regulated by the state's Dam Safety Program. Standing at a hydraulic height of 13 feet and a structural height of 18 feet, this earth dam on Merrills Cove Creek serves primarily for recreational purposes. With a storage capacity of 18 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.5 acres, Gaetani Dam provides a picturesque setting for outdoor activities.
Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, Gaetani Dam is currently in fair condition according to a 2013 assessment. The dam has a history of regular inspections, with the last one conducted in March 2013. The owner of the dam is responsible for maintaining its safety and ensuring compliance with state regulations, including permitting, inspection, and enforcement by agencies such as the NC Department of Environmental Quality.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the Buncombe County area may find Gaetani Dam to be an intriguing example of human intervention in natural water systems. Its presence on Merrills Cove Creek not only provides recreational opportunities but also highlights the importance of proper dam management and safety protocols to prevent potential risks to downstream communities and ecosystems.
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 Gaetani Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 452 cfs | → |
| Swannanoa River At Biltmore | 26 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 62 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Asheville | 573 cfs | → |
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 2 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 257 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gaetani Dam.
Boat launches
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Redmon Road Madison County
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
Campgrounds
- Firefighter Island Campsite
- Creekside Mountain Camping
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Lake Powhatan
- North Mills River Campground
- North Mills River
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
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
Track Gaetani 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 Gaetani Dam
Where does the data for Gaetani 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 Gaetani Dam.