Cobb Lake Dam dam
Cobb Lake Dam
Cobb Lake Dam, located in Macon, North Carolina, serves as a crucial water resource and recreational area for the community. Owned privately, the dam is state-regulated and regularly inspected by the NCDEQ's Dam Safety Program to ensure public safety. Standing at a structural height of 23.5 feet with a hydraulic height of 21.7 feet, the dam impounds Matlock Creek to create a serene 16-acre lake that offers recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.
The primary purpose of Cobb Lake Dam is recreation, reflecting its importance as a popular spot for fishing, boating, and other water-based activities. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in February 2019. With a normal storage capacity of 12 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 16 acre-feet, the dam provides essential water storage for the surrounding area while also offering a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
Cobb Lake Dam's presence on Matlock Creek not only contributes to the region's water resources but also enhances the local environment with its surface area of 2 acres. As a key feature in Macon's landscape, the dam underscores the importance of proper maintenance and regulation to ensure its continued function and safety for both recreational and practical purposes.
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 Cobb Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River At Needmore | 445 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 169 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Barker's Creek | 206 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Bryson City | 571 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cobb Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Great Smoky Mountains Expressway 5453, Jackson County
- Church Street Jackson County
- Cable Cove Road, Fontana Dam
- Cable Cove Road Graham County
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- Massey Branch Road 1184, Robbinsville
Campgrounds
- Turkey Creek Campground
- Lost Mine Camp Ground
- Fort Wilderness Rv Park And Campground
- Deep Creek Campground
- Deep Creek - Great Smoky Mountains
- Deep Creek Group Camp
Fishing spots
- Bear Creek Lake
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Augerhole Branch
- Birchfield Branch
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Santeetlah Lake
Paddle runs
- Natahala Powerhouse To Lake Fontana (River Mile 4)
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
- Ga/Nc State Line To 2 Miles Downriver
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
- Burrels Ford To Lick Log Branch (Section 1)
Track Cobb Lake 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 Cobb Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cobb Lake 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 Cobb Lake Dam.