Cane River Dam dam
Cane River Dam
Situated in Riverside, North Carolina, the Cane River Dam stands as a testament to human engineering and ingenuity. Owned privately, this concrete structure serves primarily for recreational purposes along the picturesque Cane River. With a structural height of 45 feet, the dam has been deemed to have a high hazard potential, yet its condition assessment remains satisfactory as of the last inspection in May 2016.
The Cane River Dam, nestled in Yancey County, showcases the intersection of water resource management and climate considerations. Despite not being regulated by the state, the dam is inspected regularly to ensure its integrity and safety. Its location along the Cane River provides an idyllic setting for outdoor activities, highlighting the importance of sustainable water use and conservation in a changing climate.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Cane River Dam serves as a focal point for exploring the balance between human development and environmental preservation. With its recreational purpose and high hazard potential, the dam underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management in the face of potential climate-related challenges. As a non-Federal structure, the Cane River Dam represents a microcosm of the broader issues surrounding water resources and climate adaptation in North Carolina and beyond.
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 Cane River Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Toe River Near Celo | 33 cfs | → |
| North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown | 7 cfs | → |
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 2 cfs | → |
| Ivy River Near Marshall | 47 cfs | → |
| Nolichucky River At Embreeville | 2,020 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Marshall | 649 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cane River Dam.
Boat launches
- Mitchell County
- Redmon Road Madison County
- Houseboat Lane 299, Mcdowell County
- Linville Boat Ramp
- Canal Bridge Boat Ramp Burke County
- Hidden Cove Boat Ramp Mcdowell County
Campgrounds
- Patience Park Toe River Campground
- Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area
- Carolina Hemlocks
- Spivey Gap Recreation Area
- Mount Mitchell State Park
- Camp Alice
Fishing spots
- Nolichucky River
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Big Pine Creek
- Dillard Place
Paddle runs
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 100.6) To Mine Branch (Rm 99.3)
- Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary
- Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
Track Cane River 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 Cane River Dam
Where does the data for Cane River 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 Cane River Dam.