Shawnee Fossil Plant - Ash Disposal Area Perimeter Dike dam
Shawnee Fossil Plant - Ash Disposal Area Perimeter Dike
The Shawnee Fossil Plant - Ash Disposal Area Perimeter Dike in Paducah, Kentucky, is a crucial structure owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority. This Earth-type dam, standing at a height of 38 feet and spanning a length of 13,821 feet, was completed in 1957 to serve various purposes related to ash disposal. With a storage capacity of 550 acre-feet and a significant hazard potential, this dike plays a vital role in managing the byproducts of the Shawnee Fossil Plant.
The dam, located off the Ohio River, is designed to handle a maximum discharge of 283 cubic feet per second through an uncontrolled spillway. Despite its age, the structure underwent hydraulic and structural modifications in 2012 to ensure its continued efficacy. The dam's inspection frequency is once per year, with the last evaluation conducted in August 2020. While the condition assessment is currently not available, the risk assessment categorizes the dam as moderate, with a DSAC risk score of 3.
Overall, the Shawnee Fossil Plant - Ash Disposal Area Perimeter Dike stands as a critical component of the Tennessee Valley Authority's infrastructure, serving a vital role in ash management and environmental protection. As a federally owned and operated structure, it exemplifies the commitment to safety and regulatory compliance that is essential in safeguarding water resources and mitigating the impacts of climate change in the region.
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 Shawnee Fossil Plant - Ash Disposal Area Perimeter Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Bayou Creek Near Grahamville | 1 cfs | → |
| Bayou Creek Near Grahamville | 5 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Metropolis | 444,000 cfs | → |
| Massac Creek Near Paducah | 1 cfs | → |
| Cache River At Forman | 3 cfs | → |
| Lusk Creek Near Eddyville | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shawnee Fossil Plant - Ash Disposal Area Perimeter Dike.
Boat launches
- Metropolis Boat Ramp
- Metropolis Ferry Landing Road Mccracken County
- Metropolis
- Mermet Lake Road Massac County
- The Foot Of Broadway Paducah
- Mill Road Pulaski County
Campgrounds
- Pearcy Camp
- Cedar Grove Camping Area
- Red Bud Campground
- Camp Ondessonk
- Turkey Ridge Tent Campground
- Teal Pond Campground
Fishing spots
- Little Cache Lake #1 (Bowman Lake)
- Dutchman Lake
- Lake Of Egypt
- One Horse Gap Lake
- Whoopie Cat Lake
- Lake Tecumseh
Paddle runs
- Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda,Il
- 1 Minle Southwest Of Delwood, Il (Sec. 18, T11s, R13e) To Reesville, 1/4 Mile South Of The Confluence With Sugar Creek
- Source, About 2 Miles East Of Delwood, Il (Sec 10, T11s, R6e) To Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop (Se1/4,Sec.16,T12s, R6e)
- Wallace Cemetery Approx 2.5 Miles Nw Of Herod, Il To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda Jobs Corp Center
- Russell Cemetery, Approx 1/4 Mile North Of Karbers Ridge Road To Proclamation Boundary, 1 Mile Nw Of Elizabethtown,Il
- 1 Mile West Of Alto Pass, Il To 1/2 Mile South Of Confluence With Clear Creek, West Of Trail Of Tears State Forest
Track Shawnee Fossil Plant - Ash Disposal Area Perimeter Dike 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 Shawnee Fossil Plant - Ash Disposal Area Perimeter Dike
Where does the data for Shawnee Fossil Plant - Ash Disposal Area Perimeter Dike 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 Shawnee Fossil Plant - Ash Disposal Area Perimeter Dike.