Asheville 1964 Ash Basin Dam Dam
Asheville 1964 Ash Basin Dam
The Asheville 1964 Ash Basin Dam, located in Buncombe, North Carolina, stands as a critical structure along the French Broad River, serving as a vital resource for water management in the region. Built in 1964, this earth dam reaches a height of 100 feet and has a hydraulic height of 17 feet, providing storage capacity of 182 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 24.9 acres. With a drainage area of 78 square miles, this dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and ensuring water security for the surrounding communities.
Managed by a public utility entity, the Asheville 1964 Ash Basin Dam is subject to state regulation and inspection to maintain its structural integrity and safety standards. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment as of October 2020 was deemed fair. This assessment underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts to address any potential risks and ensure the dam's continued functionality in safeguarding the local area from flood events and other water-related emergencies.
As climate change impacts continue to pose challenges to water resources management, the Asheville 1964 Ash Basin Dam remains a critical infrastructure for mitigating flood risks and ensuring water availability in the region. With a focus on safety and regulatory compliance, efforts are ongoing to enhance the dam's resilience and emergency preparedness, underscoring its importance in sustaining water resources for the community and ecosystem along the French Broad River.
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 Asheville 1964 Ash Basin Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River Near Fletcher | 470 cfs | → |
| Mills River Near Mills River | 52 cfs | → |
| Swannanoa River At Biltmore | 31 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Asheville | 703 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 329 cfs | → |
| Beetree Creek Near Swannanoa | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Asheville 1964 Ash Basin Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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More reservoirs
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About Asheville 1964 Ash Basin Dam
Where does the data for Asheville 1964 Ash Basin 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 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.