Bent Creek Ranch Dam dam
Bent Creek Ranch Dam
Located in Buncombe, North Carolina, the Bent Creek Ranch Dam stands as a private entity along the Wesley Branch. With a primary purpose of recreation, this earth dam boasts a hydraulic height of 14 feet and a structural height of 20 feet. The dam spans 200 feet in length, providing a picturesque backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
While the dam's hazard potential is classified as high, its condition assessment remains unrated, indicating a need for further inspection and evaluation. The last inspection was conducted in March 1995, highlighting the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. Despite its lack of state regulatory oversight, the Bent Creek Ranch Dam serves as a vital resource for the local community, offering opportunities for recreational activities and enjoyment of the surrounding natural beauty.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the Bent Creek Ranch Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable management and maintenance practices. With its idyllic location and potential risks, this dam represents a unique intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship, calling for ongoing vigilance and proactive measures to protect both the dam and the surrounding ecosystem for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
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 Bent Creek Ranch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Swannanoa River At Biltmore | 23 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 447 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Asheville | 553 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 49 cfs | → |
| Pigeon River Near Canton | 80 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 260 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bent Creek Ranch Dam.
Boat launches
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Redmon Road Madison County
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
Campgrounds
- Lake Powhatan Campground
- Lake Powhatan
- Firefighter Island Campsite
- North Mills River Campground
- North Mills River
- Mount Pisgah - Blue Ridge Parkway
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 Bent Creek Ranch 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 Bent Creek Ranch Dam
Where does the data for Bent Creek Ranch 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 Bent Creek Ranch Dam.