Tellico Dam dam
Tellico Dam
Tellico Dam, located in Loudon, Tennessee, along the Little Tennessee River, is a concrete dam completed in 1979 by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). With a height of 95 feet and a hydraulic height of 96 feet, the dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction, but also supports navigation, recreation, and water supply. The dam's reservoir, Tellico Lake, has a maximum storage capacity of 513,597 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 15,600 acres.
Despite its high hazard potential, Tellico Dam has undergone structural modifications in 2015 to ensure its continued safety and functionality. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 120 feet and is associated with three additional structures. The Tennessee Valley Authority is responsible for the dam's design, construction, regulation, inspection, and operation, making it a crucial asset in the region's water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
With its strategic location and multifaceted benefits, Tellico Dam is a vital component of the region's infrastructure. As a key flood risk reduction measure, the dam plays a critical role in protecting communities and supporting various water-related activities. Its continued maintenance and management by the Tennessee Valley Authority underscore the commitment to safeguarding water resources and enhancing climate resilience in the area.
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 Tellico Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Creek At Solway | 32 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Alcoa | 127 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Maryville | 122 cfs | → |
| Emory River At Oakdale | 63 cfs | → |
| Bullrun Creek Near Halls Crossroads | 15 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 94 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tellico Dam.
Boat launches
- Melton Hill Dam Boat Ramp
- Lake Haven Road 999, Farragut
- T V A Access Blount County
- Connatser Drive 999, Loudon County
- South Northshore Drive 10920-11098, Knoxville
- Morganton Cemetery Road Loudon County
Campgrounds
- Yarberry Peninsula
- Lotterdale Cove
- Poland Creek
- Toqua Beach - Tellico Lake
- Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort
- Notchy Creek - Tellico Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 48.0) To Tn360 Bridge (Rm 30.0)
- Center Bridge To Cumberland-Morgan County Line
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
Track Tellico 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 Tellico Dam
Where does the data for Tellico 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 Tellico Dam.