Smith dam
Smith
Smith is a private earth dam located in Lauderdale, Tennessee, near the city of Ripley. Built in 1965, this structure on Cane Creek has a hydraulic height of 20.4 feet and a structural height of 22 feet, with a length of 220 feet. It serves the primary purpose of water storage, with a normal storage capacity of 57 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 69 acre-feet. The dam covers a surface area of 7 acres and has a drainage area of 0.12 square miles.
Despite its age, Smith has a high hazard potential and is categorized as having a moderate risk level. The dam's condition assessment is marked as "Not Rated," with the last inspection date recorded in June 2017 and an inspection frequency of every 5 years. It does not have an emergency action plan (EAP) in place, and there is no information on whether it meets EAP guidelines or if inundation maps have been prepared. The dam does not have any associated structures or outlet gates, and it is not operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Smith presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned dam with significant hazard potential and moderate risk. As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, understanding the condition and management of structures like Smith is crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water systems. Further research and monitoring of Smith's condition and risk management measures could provide valuable insights into the resilience of our water infrastructure in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Smith -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hatchie River At Rialto | 3,940 cfs | → |
| South Fork Forked Deer River Near Owl City | 821 cfs | → |
| Loosahatchie River Near Arlington | 168 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Forked Deer River Near Fairview | 222 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Samburg | 0 cfs | → |
| South Fork Obion River Near Greenfield | 473 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Smith.
Track Smith 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 Smith
Where does the data for Smith 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 Smith.