Lowenstein Dam dam
Lowenstein Dam
Lowenstein Dam, located in Bryson City, North Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam that serves primarily for recreational purposes along Jenkins Branch. Standing at a structural height of 25 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 3 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 0.3 acres. While it is not regulated by the state, the dam is subject to periodic inspections, with the last assessment conducted in December 2012, revealing a fair condition with significant hazard potential.
Despite its modest size, Lowenstein Dam poses a potential risk that should not be overlooked, especially considering its age and the lack of recent updates on its emergency action plan and risk assessment. As a popular spot for recreational activities, ensuring the safety and maintenance of the dam is crucial to prevent any potential hazards and protect the surrounding community. With the dam falling under the Nashville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, it is essential for stakeholders to prioritize regular inspections and necessary maintenance to mitigate any risks and uphold safety standards for water resource enthusiasts in the area.
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 Lowenstein Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tuckasegee River At Bryson City | 667 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River At Needmore | 463 cfs | → |
| Oconaluftee River At Birdtown | 215 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Barker's Creek | 290 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lowenstein Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Church Street Jackson County
- Great Smoky Mountains Expressway 5453, Jackson County
- Cable Cove Road, Fontana Dam
- Cable Cove Road Graham County
- Fontana Road 12574, Robbinsville
- Highway 28, Fontana Dam
⛺ Campgrounds
- Deep Creek Campground
- Deep Creek - Great Smoky Mountains
- Deep Creek Group Camp
- #66 Lower Noland Creek
- #65 Bear Pen Branch
- #60 Bumgardener Branch
🎣 Fishing spots
- Augerhole Branch
- Birchfield Branch
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
- Santeetlah Lake
- Bear Creek Lake
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
🛶 Paddle runs
- Natahala Powerhouse To Lake Fontana (River Mile 4)
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Ga/Nc State Line To 2 Miles Downriver
Track Lowenstein 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 Lowenstein Dam
Where does the data for Lowenstein 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 Lowenstein Dam.