Raccoon Mountain Dam dam
Raccoon Mountain Dam
Located in Haletown, Tennessee, the Raccoon Mountain Dam, also known as Raccoon Mountain Reservoir, is a marvel of engineering designed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Completed in 1978, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 230 feet and serves as a vital hydroelectric facility on the Tennessee River's John McNabb Branch. With a storage capacity of 36,340 acre-feet and a normal storage of 2,200 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in providing water resources and clean energy for the region.
The Raccoon Mountain Dam is owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, with primary purposes including hydroelectric power generation. The dam's structure, consisting of stone core and rock foundations, spans 8,500 feet in length and covers a surface area of 528 acres. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not available, raising concerns about its risk management measures. The absence of a spillway and the use of slide gates for outlet control further highlight the importance of monitoring and maintaining this key water resource infrastructure.
As a significant feature in Marion County, Tennessee, the Raccoon Mountain Dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the intersection of water resource management and climate considerations. With its strategic location and vital role in providing clean energy and water storage, this dam serves as a vital lifeline for the region's communities and ecosystems. As climate change impacts continue to pose challenges to water resources, ensuring the safety and resilience of structures like the Raccoon Mountain Dam is essential for sustainable development and environmental stewardship in the face of evolving climate 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 Raccoon Mountain Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lookout Creek Near New England | 61 cfs | → |
| South Chickamauga Creek Near Chickamauga | 132 cfs | → |
| Sequatchie River Near Whitwell | 144 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Cr At Mile Straight | 1 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Creek Near Montlake | 0 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Dalton | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Raccoon Mountain Dam.
Boat launches
- Raccoon Mountain Road 2510, Chattanooga
- Cummings Highway Chattanooga
- U.S. 41 18039, Chattanooga
- Hamilton County
- Tennessee Riverwalk Chattanooga
- Market Street Chattanooga
Campgrounds
- Marion County Park
- Shellmound - Nickajack Dam Reservation
- Primitive Campsite 2
- Walk-In 20
- Walk-In 21
- Walk-In 19
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
Track Raccoon Mountain 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 Raccoon Mountain Dam
Where does the data for Raccoon Mountain 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 Raccoon Mountain Dam.