Rainbow Pond Dam dam
Rainbow Pond Dam
Rainbow Pond Dam, located in East Fork, North Carolina, is a private dam that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Situated on the Fork French Broad River, this concrete structure stands at a hydraulic height of 17 feet and a structural height of 18 feet, with a length of 110 feet. With a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet, it covers a surface area of 2.5 acres and is regulated by the NC Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program.
The dam, with a hazard potential rating of "High" and a condition assessment of "Fair" as of May 2018, undergoes inspections every two years to ensure safety and compliance with regulations. While the exact year of completion is not specified, Rainbow Pond Dam continues to provide recreational opportunities for visitors in Transylvania County. Its location within the Nashville District and under the jurisdiction of the state of North Carolina highlights its importance in managing water resources and maintaining public safety in the region.
With its picturesque setting and vital role in water management, Rainbow Pond Dam stands as a symbol of the intersection between human activity and natural resources. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the infrastructure and maintenance of such dams is crucial for ensuring sustainable practices and protecting our environment for future generations.
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 Rainbow Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River At Rosman | 56 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 32 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 18 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 260 cfs | → |
| W F Pigeon R Above Lake Logan Nr Hazelwood | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rainbow Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
Campgrounds
- Cantrell Campsite
- Kuykendall Group Campground
- Heath Pine Ridge Campsite
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Virginia Hawkins Campsite
- Toxaway Creek Campsites
Fishing spots
- Bear Creek Lake
- Presbyterian Lake
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Yonah Lake
- Tallulah Falls Lake
- Bailey Branch
Paddle runs
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- Sloan's Bridge Crossing To 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
Track Rainbow Pond 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 Rainbow Pond Dam
Where does the data for Rainbow Pond 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 Rainbow Pond Dam.