Wells Lake Dam Lower dam
Wells Lake Dam Lower
Wells Lake Dam Lower, located in Cherokee, North Carolina, is a privately owned structure regulated by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program. This earth dam, with a hydraulic height of 23.5 feet and a structural height of 30 feet, serves primarily for recreational purposes along the Gold Branch stream. The dam has a storage capacity of 600 acre-feet and a surface area of 50 acres, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities in the area.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Wells Lake Dam Lower undergoes regular inspections every five years to ensure its safety and integrity. The last inspection in January 2017 confirmed its overall stability, although no specific modifications or enhancements have been recorded since its completion. With a maximum discharge capacity of 340 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and flood control in the region.
As a key component of the local recreational landscape, Wells Lake Dam Lower remains a significant feature for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area. Its strategic location along the Gold Branch stream, combined with its impressive storage capacity and recreational opportunities, highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures to ensure the safety and well-being of the surrounding environment and community.
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 Wells Lake Dam Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Valley River At Tomotla | 89 cfs | → |
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 63 cfs | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 385 cfs | → |
| Toccoa River Near Dial | 236 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 88 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 99 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wells Lake Dam Lower.
Boat launches
- Nottely Dam Road Union County
- Watts Place South Union County
- Ramsey Bend South Cherokee County
- Hanging Dog Campground Road 1881, Murphy
- Hiwassee Street Murphy
- Jack's Creek Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Poteete Creek
- Hanging Dog
- Morganton Point
- Morganton Point Campground
- Fires Creek Hunt Camp
- Fires Creek Hunters Camp
Fishing spots
- Noontootla Creek Farms
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Tellico River
- Dockery Lake
- Big Bend
- Childers Creek Trailhead
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Source Near Chattahoochee Gap To Mark Trail Wilderness Boundary
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Mark Trail Wilderness Boundry To Old Turnpike Crossing Near Vandiver Branch
- Old Turnpike Crossing To Martin Branch Bridge
Track Wells Lake 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 Wells Lake Dam Lower
Where does the data for Wells Lake 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 Low 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 Wells Lake Dam Lower.