Lake Louise Dam dam
Lake Louise Dam
Lake Louise Dam, located in Alexander, North Carolina, is a significant earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a hydraulic height of 17 feet and a structural height of 19 feet, the dam spans a length of 458 feet and has a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet. Situated on the Reems Creek, the dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking within its 5.5-acre surface area.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Lake Louise Dam has been deemed to have a significant hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in May 2019. With a robust emergency action plan in place and regular inspections, the dam ensures the safety of the surrounding community in the event of any unforeseen emergencies. Additionally, the dam's location within a designated recreation area highlights its importance as a key resource for water-based activities and environmental conservation efforts.
Overall, Lake Louise Dam not only provides a recreational haven for visitors but also underscores the importance of responsible water resource management in maintaining the ecological balance of the surrounding area. With its picturesque setting and essential role in water storage and regulation, the dam stands as a vital infrastructure for both local residents and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Lake Louise Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River At Asheville | 553 cfs | → |
| Ivy River Near Marshall | 47 cfs | → |
| Swannanoa River At Biltmore | 23 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Marshall | 649 cfs | → |
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 2 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Louise Dam.
Boat launches
- Redmon Road Madison County
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Mitchell County
- French Broad Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Campfire Lodgings
- Windy Gap - A Young Life Camp
- Evan's Island Campsite
- Firefighter Island Campsite
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Lake Powhatan
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
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
Track Lake Louise 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 Lake Louise Dam
Where does the data for Lake Louise 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 Lake Louise Dam.