Marion Manufacturing Dam dam
Marion Manufacturing Dam
Located in Marion, North Carolina, the Marion Manufacturing Dam is a private structure regulated by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program. With a primary purpose of recreation, this concrete dam stands at a structural height of 36.5 feet and has a hydraulic height of 33 feet, providing a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet. The dam also boasts a hazard potential of "High" but has been assessed as satisfactory during the last inspection in March 2018.
Situated on a tributary to Young's Fork, the Marion Manufacturing Dam offers not only a recreational area but also serves as a vital water resource in the region. With a normal storage capacity of 15 acre-feet and a surface area of 1.5 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and supporting local ecosystems. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition is deemed satisfactory, ensuring its continued operation for both recreational and water management purposes.
The Marion Manufacturing Dam, owned by a private entity, remains a key feature in the McDowell County landscape, providing opportunities for leisure activities while fulfilling essential water resource functions. As a regulated structure with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place, the dam exemplifies responsible stewardship of water resources in North Carolina. Its presence underscores the intersection of human activity, environmental management, and climate resilience in the region.
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 Marion Manufacturing 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 | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 153 cfs | → |
| Cove Creek Near Lake Lure | 76 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 32 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Marion Manufacturing 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
- Weaver Lane Burke County
Campgrounds
- Mad Mama's River Run Campground
- Lake James State Park
- Paddy Creek Campground
- Lucky Strike Campground
- Vein Mountain Gold Camp & Carolina Emerald Mine
- Curtis Creek
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Nolichucky River
- Bailey Branch
- Watauga River
- Benfield Creek
- Anderson Branch
Paddle runs
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- 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 Marion Manufacturing 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 Marion Manufacturing Dam
Where does the data for Marion Manufacturing 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 Marion Manufacturing Dam.