Wharton dam
Wharton
Wharton, located in Marion, Tennessee, is a private water resource structure with a primary purpose of recreation and other activities. This earth dam stands at a structural height of 50 feet and has a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 24 acre-feet. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and has a low hazard potential, making it a relatively safe structure in terms of potential risk.
Although Wharton has not been rated for its condition assessment, it undergoes inspections every five years. The last inspection was conducted in May 2020, and the dam is categorized as having a moderate risk level. Despite its moderate risk, Wharton has not had an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared or updated recently, and it does not meet EAP guidelines. Overall, Wharton serves as a unique water resource in Tennessee, providing recreational opportunities while managing water levels to mitigate potential risks.
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 Wharton -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elk River Near Pelham | 31 cfs | → |
| Sequatchie River Near Whitwell | 152 cfs | → |
| Lookout Creek Near New England | 69 cfs | → |
| Bradley Creek Nr Prairie Plains | 33 cfs | → |
| South Chickamauga Creek Near Chickamauga | 168 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Creek Near Montlake | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wharton.
Boat launches
- Mapleview Road, South Pittsburg
- Macedonia Road Marion County
- Interstate 24, Jasper
- Hales Bar Road 950, Guild
- Bennett Lake Road 257-463, Whitwell
- Stevenson City Park Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Caver's Paradise
- Shellmound - Nickajack Dam Reservation
- Father Adamz
- Foster Falls
- Marion County Park
- Stevenson Municipal Park - Guntersville Reservoir
Fishing spots
- Coon Creek
- Bowman Branch
- Desoto State Park Lake
- Madison County Lake
- Guntersville Lake
- Fayetteville Old Stone Bridge
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
- Al 35 Bridge To Ends One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge
- Begins One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge To Lake Weiss
Track Wharton 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 Wharton
Where does the data for Wharton 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 Low 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.