Headley-May Dam dam
Headley-May Dam
Headley-May Dam, located in Marble, North Carolina, was completed in 1958 and serves as a recreational spot along Truett Branch. This private earth dam stands at a structural height of 19.7 feet and has a hydraulic height of 15.7 feet, with a capacity to store 8 acre-feet of water. Despite its purpose for recreation, the dam poses a significant hazard with a poor condition assessment as of the last inspection in 2013.
The dam, also known as May Dam, has not been modified over the years and lacks certain safety features like spillways and outlet gates. Its location in Cherokee County and close proximity to Congressional District 11 raise concerns about its maintenance and regulatory oversight. With a limited surface area of 1 acre and a maximum discharge of 160 cubic feet per second, the dam requires attention to ensure public safety and proper risk management measures.
Given its poor condition and significant hazard potential, the Headley-May Dam warrants urgent inspection and potential rehabilitation to mitigate any risks of failure. Climate and water resource enthusiasts should monitor developments regarding this dam to ensure that appropriate safety measures are taken to protect the surrounding community and environment.
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 Headley-May Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Valley River At Tomotla | 89 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 99 cfs | → |
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 130 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River At Needmore | 369 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 88 cfs | → |
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 63 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Headley-May Dam.
Boat launches
- Massey Branch Road 1184, Robbinsville
- Joyce Kilmer Road 1920, Robbinsville
- Joyce Kilmer Road 1986, Graham County
- Payne Street Murphy
- Hiwassee Street Murphy
- Hanging Dog Campground Road 1881, Murphy
Campgrounds
- Tat Start
- Snowbird Camping
- Fires Creek Hunters Camp
- Fires Creek Hunt Camp
- Rattler Ford Campground
- Rattler Ford Group Campground
Fishing spots
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Santeetlah Lake
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Augerhole Branch
- Birchfield Branch
- Indian Boundary Lake
Paddle runs
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
- Natahala Powerhouse To Lake Fontana (River Mile 4)
Track Headley-May 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 Headley-May Dam
Where does the data for Headley-May 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 Headley-May Dam.