Kelley dam
Kelley
Kelley is a privately owned earth dam located in Bledsoe, Tennessee, along the Pemberton Branch. Built in 1969, this dam stands at a hydraulic height of 18 feet and a structural height of 23 feet, with a length of 242 feet. It has a storage capacity of 22 acre-feet and a surface area of 3 acres, serving a drainage area of 0.32 square miles. The dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, with a moderate risk assessment rating.
Despite being privately owned, Kelley does not fall under state jurisdiction or regulation, with no state permitting, inspection, or enforcement in place. The dam is not regularly rated for its condition and does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared. In terms of its operation, Kelley has no associated locks, spillways, or outlet gates. The last inspection conducted on Kelley was in September 2017, with a scheduled inspection frequency of 5 years.
Overall, Kelley presents an interesting case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts, showcasing the complexities of privately owned dams in the United States. With its significant hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, there is a need for continued monitoring and evaluation to ensure the safety and integrity of this earth dam. As the dam is not regulated by state authorities, it highlights the importance of proactive risk management measures and emergency preparedness for private dam owners to mitigate potential hazards and protect downstream communities and ecosystems.
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 Kelley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Chickamauga Creek Near Montlake | 0 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Cr At Mile Straight | 2 cfs | → |
| Sequatchie River Near Whitwell | 152 cfs | → |
| Calfkiller River At Hwy 111 Below Sparta | 282 cfs | → |
| Collins River Near Mcminnville | 198 cfs | → |
| Sewee Creek Near Decatur | 24 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kelley.
Boat launches
- Blythes Ferry Road 5673, Dayton
- Blythe Ferry Road 6699, Meigs County
- Armstrong Road 11304, Hamilton County
- Tn 58 3829, Meigs County
- Mcminn County
- Vincent Road 5163-5513, Chattanooga
Campgrounds
- Backcountry Camp 3
- Backcountry Camp 1
- Backcountry Camp 2
- Sale Creek - Chickamauga Lake
- Savage Gulf
- Savage Falls
Paddle runs
- Mill Site To Center Bridge
- I-40 Bridge To Western Boundary Of Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, At Adams Bridge
- Center Bridge To Cumberland-Morgan County Line
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
- U.S. 127 Bridge To Morgan County Line
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
Track Kelley 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 Kelley
Where does the data for Kelley 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.