Clifftops dam
Clifftops
Clifftops, located in Marion, Tennessee, is a privately owned dam that spans the Falls Branch river. Built in 1977, this Earth-type dam stands at a structural height of 24 feet with a hydraulic height of 18 feet. With a storage capacity of 992 acre-feet, Clifftops serves multiple purposes including recreation and other activities. The dam covers a surface area of 77 acres and has a drainage area of 1.7 square miles.
Managed by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program, Clifftops is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in December 2020 reported it as satisfactory. The risk assessment for Clifftops is moderate, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to prevent any potential issues.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Clifftops offers a fascinating example of dam infrastructure in Tennessee. Its location in Martin Springs, alongside the Falls Branch river, provides an opportunity for recreational activities while highlighting the importance of proper dam management to mitigate risks and ensure public safety. The dam's history, design, and purpose all contribute to the broader conversation on water resource management and environmental stewardship in the region.
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 Clifftops -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elk River Near Pelham | 31 cfs | → |
| Bradley Creek Nr Prairie Plains | 33 cfs | → |
| Sequatchie River Near Whitwell | 152 cfs | → |
| Duck River Below Manchester | 41 cfs | → |
| Lookout Creek Near New England | 69 cfs | → |
| Wartrace Creek Below County Road At Wartrace | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clifftops.
Boat launches
- Prairie Plains Road 6471, Hillsboro
- Morris Ferry Dock Road 66-98, Estill Springs
- Manchester Beach Road, Tullahoma
- Franklin County Park Boat Ramp
- Phillip Fulmer Parkway 1501, Winchester
- Dry Creek Ramp Road 99, Winchester
Campgrounds
- Caver's Paradise
- Father Adamz
- Foster Falls
- Arnold Afb Military
- Shellmound - Nickajack Dam Reservation
- Alum Gap
Fishing spots
- Coon Creek
- Bowman Branch
- Madison County Lake
- Fayetteville Old Stone Bridge
- Guntersville Lake
- Desoto State Park Lake
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
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
More reservoirs
Track Clifftops 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 Clifftops
Where does the data for Clifftops 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 Clifftops.