Pickwick Landing Dam dam
Pickwick Landing Dam
Pickwick Landing Dam, located in Tennessee along the Tennessee River, is a marvel of engineering designed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in 1938. This concrete dam stands at 113 feet high and serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, navigation, recreation, and water supply. With a storage capacity of over 1.5 million acre-feet and a surface area of 42,700 acres, Pickwick Lake, as it is often referred to, provides crucial resources to the region.
The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 1141 feet and two vertical lift outlet gates. It also includes two locks that are 1000 feet long and 110 feet wide, facilitating navigation along the river. In 2020, the dam underwent seismic modifications to enhance its structural integrity and hazard potential rating, which is deemed high. Despite being owned and operated by the TVA, the dam is also regulated and inspected by the US Army Corps of Engineers, ensuring its continued safe operation and risk management.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the significance of Pickwick Landing Dam in mitigating flooding, generating clean energy, and providing recreational opportunities in the region. With its strategic location along the Tennessee River and advanced infrastructure, this concrete marvel stands as a testament to sustainable water management and multi-purpose dam design. As climate challenges persist, the dam remains a crucial asset in safeguarding communities and ecosystems against water-related risks.
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 Pickwick Landing Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Horse Creek Near Savannah | 195 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Bishop | 4,330 cfs | → |
| Hatchie River Near Walnut | 706 cfs | → |
| Cypress Creek Near Florence Al | 226 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Flat Woods | 460 cfs | → |
| Shoal Creek At Iron City | 480 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pickwick Landing Dam.
Boat launches
- Wharf Road, Savannah
- Branun Cemetery Road, Savannah
- County Road 14 6990, Waterloo
- Tennessee River Lane 475, Savannah
- Riverton Rose Trail 9272-9380, Cherokee
Campgrounds
- Pickwick Dam - Tva
- Pickwick Landing Sp - Trail Camps
- Colbert Ferry Bicycle Only Campground
- Big Hill Pond State Park Campground
- Big Hill Pond Sp - Grassy Point Shelter
Fishing spots
Track Pickwick Landing Dam 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 Pickwick Landing Dam
Where does the data for Pickwick Landing Dam 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 Pickwick Landing Dam.