Signal Mountain Cement dam
Signal Mountain Cement
Signal Mountain Cement is a privately owned dam located in Hamilton, Tennessee, and regulated by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program. Completed in 1977, this earth-type dam serves the primary purpose of water supply, with a height of 16.5 feet and a hydraulic height of 11 feet. With a storage capacity of 62 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 5.7 acres and has a drainage area of 0.53 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Signal Mountain Cement is subject to regular inspections by state regulatory agencies. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and has no outlet gates. The last inspection was conducted in July 2020, with a frequency of every 3 years. In the event of an emergency, the dam's Emergency Action Plan status and compliance with guidelines are currently unspecified.
Overall, Signal Mountain Cement provides a vital water resource for the surrounding area, with a moderate risk assessment rating. While the dam has not been modified in recent years and does not have a designated Emergency Action Plan, its risk management measures are not explicitly stated. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the complex interplay of environmental factors and regulatory oversight involved in the maintenance and operation of this essential infrastructure.
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 Signal Mountain Cement -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Chickamauga Creek Near Chickamauga | 132 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Cr At Mile Straight | 1 cfs | → |
| Sequatchie River Near Whitwell | 144 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Creek Near Montlake | 0 cfs | → |
| Lookout Creek Near New England | 61 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Dalton | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Signal Mountain Cement.
Boat launches
- Hamilton County
- Tennessee Riverwalk Chattanooga
- Market Street Chattanooga
- Raccoon Mountain Road 2510, Chattanooga
- Cummings Highway Chattanooga
- South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Chattanooga
Campgrounds
- Chester Frost Park
- Marion County Park
- Harrison Bay State Park
- Shellmound - Nickajack Dam Reservation
- Skull Island - Chickamauga Lake
- Primitive Campsite 2
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Southern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Peter Cove To Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Alaculsy
Track Signal Mountain Cement 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 Signal Mountain Cement
Where does the data for Signal Mountain Cement 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 Signal Mountain Cement.