Perkins Dam dam
Perkins Dam
Perkins Dam, located in Henderson, North Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation. With a hydraulic height of 13 feet and a structural height of 15 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 2 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 0.3 acres. While the dam is not regulated by the state, it has been inspected and deemed to have a significant hazard potential, although its condition was assessed as satisfactory during its last inspection in November 2012.
Despite its private ownership and recreational purpose, Perkins Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience in the region. Its construction by designers unknown serves as a testament to human ingenuity in harnessing natural resources for multiple benefits. With a latitude of 35.23297 and a longitude of -82.56614, the dam stands as a symbol of human interaction with the environment, providing both recreational opportunities for visitors and potential risks that must be managed effectively to ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
As climate change continues to impact water resources worldwide, structures like Perkins Dam become even more vital in maintaining water supply, flood control, and overall ecosystem health. The dam's satisfactory condition assessment underscores the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued functionality in the face of changing environmental conditions. With a significant hazard potential and a history of satisfactory performance, Perkins Dam stands as a reminder of the delicate balance between human infrastructure and the natural world, highlighting the need for sustainable management practices to ensure the resilience of water resources for future generations.
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 Perkins Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 340 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 20 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 49 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 73 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 626 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Perkins Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Perkins Dam
Where does the data for Perkins 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 below 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.
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.