Kent Brown Dam dam
Kent Brown Dam
Kent Brown Dam, also known as E. W. Parker Dam, is a private-owned structure located in McDowell, North Carolina, specifically in Johns Creek. The dam is regulated by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program and is primarily used for recreation. With a hydraulic height of 19.5 feet and a structural height of 22.8 feet, the dam serves a vital role in managing the water resources of John's Creek.
Situated within the Nashville District, Kent Brown Dam has a significant hazard potential but is currently assessed as satisfactory in condition. The dam has a storage capacity of 21 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 3 acres. While the last inspection was conducted in April 2013, the dam has been deemed to meet safety guidelines. Despite its private ownership, the dam plays a crucial role in the local water resource management and offers recreational opportunities to the community.
Overall, Kent Brown Dam stands as a key infrastructure in McDowell County, providing both water resource management and recreational benefits. With its regulated status and satisfactory condition, the dam serves as a testament to responsible stewardship of water resources in North Carolina. While further inspections and risk assessments may be necessary in the future, Kent Brown Dam remains a vital component of the local environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate and monitor.
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 Kent Brown Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Catawba R Nr Pleasant Gardens | 118 cfs | → |
| Linville River Near Nebo | 95 cfs | → |
| South Toe River Near Celo | 81 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 32 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 153 cfs | → |
| Cove Creek Near Lake Lure | 76 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kent Brown Dam.
Boat launches
- Houseboat Lane 299, Mcdowell County
- Hidden Cove Boat Ramp Mcdowell County
- Canal Bridge Boat Ramp Burke County
- Linville Boat Ramp
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Mitchell County
Campgrounds
- Mad Mama's River Run Campground
- Lake James State Park
- Paddy Creek Campground
- Crabtree Meadows - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Crabtree Falls Campground
- Curtis Creek
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Nolichucky River
- Bailey Branch
- Watauga River
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
Paddle runs
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
Track Kent Brown 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 Kent Brown Dam
Where does the data for Kent Brown 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 Kent Brown Dam.