Suddreth Dam Lower dam
Suddreth Dam Lower
Suddreth Dam Lower, located in Cherokee, North Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1965, the dam has a hydraulic height of 13.2 feet and a structural height of 12.5 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 16 acre-feet. The dam spans a length of 326 feet and covers a surface area of 2.5 acres, making it an ideal spot for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and picnicking.
Despite being privately owned, Suddreth Dam Lower is subject to state inspection to ensure its safety and regulatory compliance. The dam's condition is assessed as fair, with a significant hazard potential, highlighting the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance. In the event of an emergency, the dam operators are responsible for implementing an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to mitigate risks and protect surrounding communities. With its picturesque location along the Calhoun Branch-Tr river, Suddreth Dam Lower serves as a popular recreational destination while also emphasizing the need for responsible stewardship of water resources in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Suddreth Dam Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Valley River At Tomotla | 110 cfs | → |
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 77 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 119 cfs | → |
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 136 cfs | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 256 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Near Clayton | 72 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Suddreth Dam Lower.
Boat launches
- Hiwassee Street Murphy
- Payne Street Murphy
- Ramsey Bend South Cherokee County
- Hanging Dog Campground Road 1881, Murphy
- Jackrabbit Boating Access
- Joe Brown Highway 8240, Murphy
Campgrounds
- Fires Creek Hunt Camp
- Fires Creek Hunters Camp
- Hanging Dog
- Gibson Cove Campground
- Gibson Cove - Chatuge Reservoir
- Clay County Recreation Campground
Fishing spots
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Santeetlah Lake
- Tellico River
- Indian Boundary Lake
- Citico Creek
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
- Source Near Chattahoochee Gap To Mark Trail Wilderness Boundary
Track Suddreth Dam Lower 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 Suddreth Dam Lower
Where does the data for Suddreth Dam Lower 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 Suddreth Dam Lower.