Lake Womack dam
Lake Womack
Located in Coffee, Tennessee, Lake Womack is a private reservoir that was completed in 1937 for the primary purpose of water storage. With a maximum storage capacity of 215 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 124 acre-feet, this earth dam structure on Taylor Branch serves as a vital resource for the local community. The dam, standing at a structural height of 15.7 feet and a hydraulic height of 12.4 feet, plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
Despite being state-regulated and owned privately, Lake Womack has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. The reservoir covers a surface area of 25 acres and has a drainage area of 2.88 square miles. While the dam does not have outlet gates, it features an uncontrolled spillway type. With a recent inspection conducted in July 2018 and a designated inspection frequency of 5 years, the condition assessment of Lake Womack is currently noted as "Not Rated," emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its long-term stability and functionality.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Womack presents an intriguing case study of a historic earth dam that continues to provide essential water storage capabilities in Tennessee. As discussions around water management and infrastructure resilience gain prominence, the unique characteristics of Lake Womack offer valuable insights into the importance of maintaining and regulating such structures to mitigate potential risks and ensure sustainable water resource management for future generations.
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 Lake Womack -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Duck River Below Manchester | 41 cfs | → |
| Bradley Creek Nr Prairie Plains | 33 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Pelham | 31 cfs | → |
| Wartrace Creek Below County Road At Wartrace | 2 cfs | → |
| Collins River Near Mcminnville | 198 cfs | → |
| Duck River At Shelbyville | 158 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Womack.
Boat launches
- River Forge Road 485, Manchester
- Barton Springs Boat Ramp
- Cedar Point Road 1498, Manchester
- Roberts Ridge Road 3855, Manchester
- Normandy Dam Road Coffee County
- Manchester Beach Road, Tullahoma
Campgrounds
- Old Stone Fort State Park
- Cedar Point - Normandy Lake
- Barton Springs - Normandy Lake
- Arnold Afb Military
- Alum Gap
- Stone Door
Fishing spots
Track Lake Womack 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 Lake Womack
Where does the data for Lake Womack 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 Lake Womack.