Pioneer #3 dam
Pioneer #3
Located in Dyer, Tennessee, Pioneer #3 is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1945 for recreational purposes along the Forked Deer River. With a hydraulic height of 23.7 feet and a structural height of 28.9 feet, this dam provides a storage capacity of 138 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 9.4 acres. Despite its high hazard potential, Pioneer #3 has been deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of its last inspection in July 2020.
Managed by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program, this dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring compliance with safety standards and maintenance protocols. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and has no outlet gates. While the risk assessment classifies Pioneer #3 as having a moderate risk level, there is a lack of information regarding emergency action plans, inundation maps, and risk management measures, highlighting areas for potential improvement in the dam's safety and emergency preparedness protocols.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Pioneer #3 serves as a valuable case study in dam infrastructure management, highlighting the importance of regular inspections, risk assessments, and emergency preparedness in ensuring the safety and resilience of dams in the face of changing environmental conditions. As a recreational structure with historical significance, Pioneer #3 embodies the intersection of human development and natural systems, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities of managing water resources in a dynamic and evolving climate landscape.
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 Pioneer #3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Creek Near Samburg | 0 cfs | → |
| South Fork Forked Deer River Near Owl City | 1,900 cfs | → |
| Reelfoot Creek Near Samburg | 5 cfs | → |
| Hatchie River At Rialto | 3,600 cfs | → |
| South Fork Obion River Near Greenfield | 479 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Forked Deer River Near Fairview | 507 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pioneer #3.
Track Pioneer #3 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 Pioneer #3
Where does the data for Pioneer #3 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 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 Pioneer #3.