Cotton Dam dam
Cotton Dam
Cotton Dam, located in Bean's Creek, North Carolina, is a private Earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes on the Left Fork Bean's Creek. With a hydraulic height of 16.3 feet and a structural height of 19 feet, this dam provides a surface area of 0.75 acres and a storage capacity of 8 acre-feet. The dam, with a length of 143 feet, has not been rated for its condition since its last inspection in July 2012, where it was deemed to have a significant hazard potential.
Although the dam is not state-regulated, it is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and integrity. Owned privately, Cotton Dam offers opportunities for recreational activities and serves as a popular spot for locals and visitors alike to enjoy the surrounding natural beauty. With a significant hazard potential, it is crucial for authorities to keep a close eye on the dam's condition and maintenance to prevent any potential risks or emergencies in the future.
The dam, situated in Mitchell County, North Carolina, is an essential part of the local water resource infrastructure, providing both storage and recreational opportunities for the community. With its location in a scenic area and its significant hazard potential, Cotton Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proper dam management and maintenance to ensure the safety of both the environment and the people who enjoy its recreational benefits.
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 Cotton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nolichucky River At Embreeville | 2,020 cfs | → |
| Doe River At Elizabethton | 293 cfs | → |
| Watauga River At Elizabethton | 1,390 cfs | → |
| South Toe River Near Celo | 33 cfs | → |
| Big Limestone Creek Near Limestone | 25 cfs | → |
| Watauga River Near Sugar Grove | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cotton Dam.
Boat launches
- Mitchell County
- Us 321;Sr 67 Carter County
- Blevins 221-259, Johnson City
- Wilbur Dam Road Carter County
- Lovers Lane 338, Carter County
- Wagner Road, Watauga
Campgrounds
- Living Waters Campground
- Rock Creek Rec Area
- Lil Rock Creek Campground
- Saylor Lake Rv Park
- Roan Mountain State Park
- Spivey Gap Recreation Area
Fishing spots
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)
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- 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
Track Cotton 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 Cotton Dam
Where does the data for Cotton 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 Cotton Dam.