Hico dam
Hico
Hico is a state-regulated dam located in Henry, Tennessee, along the TRIBNORTH FORK OBION RIV. Built in 1987, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 21.4 feet and spans 855 feet in length, with a maximum storage capacity of 250 acre-feet. The dam is under the oversight of the TENNESSEE SAFE DAMS PROGRAM, ensuring that it undergoes regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in November 2020 revealing a satisfactory condition.
Despite its moderate risk assessment of level 3, Hico poses a significant hazard potential due to its uncontrolled spillway type. The dam is not equipped with outlet gates and has no associated locks. While it has not been modified over the years, the dam's emergency action plan status, inundation maps, and risk management measures are not specified in the available data. With a designated inspection frequency of 2, Hico remains an essential structure for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor closely for any potential safety concerns or maintenance needs.
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 Hico -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clarks River At Murray | 15 cfs | → |
| Clarks River At Almo | 341 cfs | → |
| North Fork Obion River Near Martin | 559 cfs | → |
| Crooked Creek Near Huntingdon | 38 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy River At Bruceton | 154 cfs | → |
| South Fork Obion River Near Greenfield | 629 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hico.
Boat launches
- Lake Access Road 199, Big Sandy
- Forest Service Rd 212, Tennessee
- Aurora Highway Marshall County
- Forest Service Road 172-C Trigg County
- Marshall County
- Jefferson Davis Highway 12720, Marshall County
Campgrounds
- Paris Landing State Park
- Piney - Lbl
- Boswell Landing
- Rushing Creek - Lbl
- Fenton Campground & Boat Ramp At Land Between The Lakes
- Gatlin Point
More reservoirs
Track Hico 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 Hico
Where does the data for Hico 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 Hico.