Wilderness Creek Falls Dam Lower dam
Wilderness Creek Falls Dam Lower
Wilderness Creek Falls Dam Lower, located in Cherokee, North Carolina, is a private earth dam with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. Built in 2004, this structure stands at a height of 28.8 feet and has a length of 694 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 29 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 2.5 acres.
Regulated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Dam Safety Program, Wilderness Creek Falls Dam Lower has a low hazard potential and is currently in fair condition as of the last inspection in December 2012. With state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place, this dam ensures the safety and preservation of the surrounding environment and wildlife. The dam also plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem by providing a habitat for fish and wildlife in the area.
As a vital component in the conservation of fish and wildlife in the region, Wilderness Creek Falls Dam Lower serves as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate resilience. Positioned as a key structure in the tributary to Potato Creek, this dam underscores the commitment to environmental stewardship and the preservation of natural habitats for future generations to enjoy.
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 Wilderness Creek Falls Dam Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 259 cfs | → |
| Toccoa River Near Dial | 271 cfs | → |
| Valley River At Tomotla | 116 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 131 cfs | → |
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 81 cfs | → |
| Cartecay River Near Ellijay | 161 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wilderness Creek Falls Dam Lower.
Boat launches
- Toccoa Avenue 104, Mccaysville
- Micken Branch Cherokee County
- Hiwassee Dam Access Road 4692, Murphy
- Mallard Point Road 109, Fannin County
- Powerhouse Road 820-832, Reliance
- Joe Brown Highway 8240, Murphy
Campgrounds
- Tumbling Creek Campground
- Tumbling Creek
- Thunder Rock
- Thunder Rock Campground
- Morganton Point Campground
- Morganton Point
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Southern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Peter Cove To Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Alaculsy
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
Track Wilderness Creek Falls Dam Lower 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 Wilderness Creek Falls Dam Lower
Where does the data for Wilderness Creek Falls Dam Lower 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 Low 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 Wilderness Creek Falls Dam Lower.