Lipham Dam dam
Lipham Dam
Lipham Dam, located in Haywood, North Carolina, stands as a testament to engineering and design, completed in 1950 for the primary purpose of recreation. This private-owned earth dam on a tributary to the Pigeon River boasts a structural height of 49 feet and a length of 300 feet, offering a surface area of 2.5 acres for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. Despite its age, the dam is in fair condition with a high hazard potential, necessitating regular inspections every two years to ensure its continued safety.
Managed by the North Carolina Dam Safety Program, Lipham Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state agencies to uphold safety standards and protect downstream communities. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in 2009, and although it meets guidelines, further risk assessments and management measures may be needed to enhance preparedness in case of a catastrophic event. With no associated structures or federal agency involvement, the dam remains a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts who value its role in providing recreational opportunities in the region.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of the surrounding landscape, Lipham Dam serves as a vital piece of infrastructure that not only offers recreational benefits but also poses potential risks that must be carefully managed. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of maintaining and monitoring structures like Lipham Dam becomes increasingly significant to ensure the safety of both the dam and the communities it serves. Enthusiasts and stakeholders alike can appreciate the beauty and engineering excellence of Lipham Dam while recognizing the need for ongoing vigilance and stewardship to protect its integrity for generations to come.
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 Lipham Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pigeon River Near Canton | 613 cfs | → |
| East Fork Pigeon River Near Canton | 590 cfs | → |
| W Fk Pigeon R At Bethel | 446 cfs | → |
| West Fork Pigeon River Near Retreat | 36 cfs | → |
| W F Pigeon R Above Lake Logan Nr Hazelwood | 341 cfs | → |
| Pigeon River Near Hepco | 1,540 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lipham Dam.
Boat launches
- North Lakeshore Drive 103, Haywood County
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Redmon Road Madison County
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
Campgrounds
- Mount Pisgah - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Mount Pisgah Campground
- Mt Pisgah
- Camp Daniel Boone, Bsa
- Lake Powhatan
- Lake Powhatan Campground
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
- Bear Creek Lake
- Allen Branch Pond
Paddle runs
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
Track Lipham 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 Lipham Dam
Where does the data for Lipham 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 Lipham Dam.