Strawberry Ridge Dam dam
Strawberry Ridge Dam
Strawberry Ridge Dam, located in Mitchell, North Carolina, along Crabtree Creek, is a private earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. With a hydraulic height of 30.7 feet and a structural height of 40 feet, this dam provides a surface area of 2 acres and a drainage area of 179 square miles. Despite its fair condition assessment, the dam has a high hazard potential, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure public safety.
Constructed for recreational purposes, Strawberry Ridge Dam offers a storage capacity of 14 acre-feet and a maximum discharge capacity for flood control. The dam's last inspection occurred in December 1994, highlighting the importance of regular assessments to mitigate potential risks associated with its high hazard rating. While the dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment details are currently unknown, its location in a scenic area near Boonford makes it a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
As a vital component of the local water management infrastructure, Strawberry Ridge Dam serves as a key recreational site within the region. Despite its fair condition assessment, the dam's high hazard potential underscores the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the intricacies of this dam's design and purpose can offer valuable insights into the intersection of human infrastructure and natural ecosystems.
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 Strawberry Ridge Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Toe River Near Celo | 44 cfs | → |
| Catawba R Nr Pleasant Gardens | 50 cfs | → |
| Linville River Near Nebo | 16 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 7 cfs | → |
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 2 cfs | → |
| Johns River At Arneys Store | 68 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Strawberry Ridge Dam.
Boat launches
- Houseboat Lane 299, Mcdowell County
- Linville Boat Ramp
- Canal Bridge Boat Ramp Burke County
- Hidden Cove Boat Ramp Mcdowell County
- Mitchell County
- Price Lake Trail Watauga County
Campgrounds
- Crabtree Falls Campground
- Crabtree Meadows - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Patience Park Toe River Campground
- Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area
- Carolina Hemlocks
- Black Mountain
Fishing spots
- Nolichucky River
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Watauga River
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
Paddle runs
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 100.6) To Mine Branch (Rm 99.3)
Track Strawberry Ridge 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 Strawberry Ridge Dam
Where does the data for Strawberry Ridge 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 Strawberry Ridge Dam.