O. A. Fish Dam dam
O. A. Fish Dam
O. A. Fish Dam, located in Bostic, North Carolina, on Puzzle Creek, is a private dam primarily used for recreational purposes. Managed by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam with a stone core stands at a structural height of 27.6 feet and has a hydraulic height of 23 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 30 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 50 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 4.5 acres and serves a drainage area of 139 square miles.
Although classified as having a low hazard potential, O. A. Fish Dam's condition assessment in 2018 was deemed fair. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with outlet gates also being uncontrolled. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, the dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement by the NCDEQ Dam Safety Program. The last inspection took place in March 2018, with an inspection frequency of 5 years.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the environmental impact and management of dams like O. A. Fish Dam in North Carolina will find this information on its design, purpose, storage capacity, risk assessment, and regulatory oversight to be intriguing. The dam's role in providing recreational opportunities while also being subject to state jurisdiction and inspection highlights the delicate balance between human use and environmental protection in water resource management.
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 O. A. Fish Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Second Broad River Nr Logan | 124 cfs | → |
| First Broad River Near Casar | 51 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Boiling Springs | 968 cfs | → |
| Jacob Fork At Ramsey | 19 cfs | → |
| Cove Creek Near Lake Lure | 136 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Blacksburg | 1,650 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near O. A. Fish Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About O. A. Fish Dam
Where does the data for O. A. Fish 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 below 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.
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.