Turner Lake dam
Turner Lake
Turner Lake in Cumberland, Tennessee is a privately owned reservoir that serves as a popular recreational spot. Built in 1973, the earth dam stands at a height of 35.5 feet and has a hydraulic height of 28.7 feet. The lake has a storage capacity of 2030 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 105 acres, making it an ideal location for various water activities.
Managed by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program, Turner Lake is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and its hazard potential is deemed significant, although its condition assessment is currently rated as satisfactory. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures.
With its picturesque location near North Creek in Dorton, Turner Lake offers water resource and climate enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature while also recognizing the importance of preserving and maintaining these vital water structures for future generations. Its rich history and recreational value make it a noteworthy destination for those interested in the intersection of water management and environmental conservation.
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 Turner Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Daddys Creek Near Hebbertsburg | 14 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Lilly Bridge Near Lancing | 11 cfs | → |
| Obed River Near Lancing | 599 cfs | → |
| Emory River At Oakdale | 59 cfs | → |
| Calfkiller River At Hwy 111 Below Sparta | 282 cfs | → |
| Sewee Creek Near Decatur | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Turner Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Rock Creek Camground
- East Fork Stables
- Frozen Head State Park
- Backcountry Camp 1
- Mart Fields Campsite
- Old Mac Campsite
Paddle runs
- I-40 Bridge To Western Boundary Of Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, At Adams Bridge
- Center Bridge To Cumberland-Morgan County Line
- Mill Site To Center Bridge
- U.S. 127 Bridge To Morgan County Line
- Tn/Ky State Line To White Oak Junction
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
Track Turner Lake 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 Turner Lake
Where does the data for Turner Lake 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 Turner Lake.