Lucy's Branch Dam dam
Lucy's Branch Dam
Lucy's Branch Dam, located in Santeetlah, North Carolina, is a private earth dam primarily built for recreation purposes along Lucy's Branch river. Completed in 1985, this dam stands at a structural height of 28.5 feet with a hydraulic height of 25.5 feet, creating a storage capacity of 40 acre-feet. With a surface area of 2.5 acres, this low hazard dam has a satisfactory condition assessment as of May 2013.
Managed by a private owner, Lucy's Branch Dam is not regulated by the state and does not require permits or enforcement. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam has a maximum discharge of 95 cubic feet per second. The Nashville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers oversees this recreational dam, offering a tranquil getaway for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking adventure in the remote wilderness of Graham County.
As an integral part of the local landscape, Lucy's Branch Dam provides a serene setting for outdoor activities and leisure pursuits. With its peaceful surroundings and idyllic location, this earth dam serves as a valuable resource for residents and visitors alike, showcasing the beauty and resilience of North Carolina's natural environment in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Lucy's Branch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Valley River At Tomotla | 85 cfs | → |
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 130 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 83 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 96 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River At Needmore | 364 cfs | → |
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 60 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lucy's Branch Dam.
Boat launches
- Payne Street Murphy
- Hiwassee Street Murphy
- Joyce Kilmer Road 1920, Robbinsville
- Massey Branch Road 1184, Robbinsville
- Joe Brown Highway 8240, Murphy
- Hanging Dog Campground Road 1881, Murphy
Campgrounds
- Snowbird Camping
- State Line
- State Line Campground
- Rough Ridge Campground
- Whigg Meadow
- Big Oak Cove Campground
Fishing spots
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Santeetlah Lake
- Indian Boundary Lake
- Tellico River
- Citico Creek
- Augerhole Branch
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
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 48.0) To Tn360 Bridge (Rm 30.0)
Track Lucy's Branch 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 Lucy's Branch Dam
Where does the data for Lucy's Branch 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 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 Lucy's Branch Dam.