Pavillon Dam dam
Pavillon Dam
Pavillon Dam, located in Mill Spring, North Carolina, is a privately-owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Completed in 1998, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 18 feet and a structural height of 28 feet, with a length of 130 feet. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 52 acre-feet and is situated on Britten Creek, within a drainage area of 2592 acres.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of March 2014, Pavillon Dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential. The dam's last inspection date was in March 2014, and inspections are conducted every two years to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. The dam is regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Dam Safety Program, with the owner responsible for permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Pavillon Dam can appreciate its role in providing recreational opportunities while also recognizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment. As a key feature in the local landscape, Pavillon Dam highlights the balance between human enjoyment of water resources and the need for responsible stewardship to mitigate potential risks associated with dam structures.
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 Pavillon Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cove Creek Near Lake Lure | 34 cfs | → |
| South Pacolet River Nr Campobello | 19 cfs | → |
| Second Broad River Nr Logan | 30 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 452 cfs | → |
| North Pacolet River At Fingerville | 50 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 62 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pavillon Dam.
Boat launches
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Anchor Park
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- Houseboat Lane 299, Mcdowell County
Campgrounds
- River Creek Camp Ground
- Creekside Mountain Camping
- Catawba Falls Campground, Llc
- Vein Mountain Gold Camp & Carolina Emerald Mine
- Lucky Strike Campground
- Curtis Creek Campground
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
- Bear Creek Lake
- Nolichucky River
Paddle runs
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
Track Pavillon 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 Pavillon Dam
Where does the data for Pavillon 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 Pavillon Dam.