Estes Kefauver dam
Estes Kefauver
Estes Kefauver, also known as Madisonville Lake Dam, is a recreational Earth dam located in Monroe, Tennessee. Built in 1975 by the USDA NRCS, this dam stands at a structural height of 24.3 feet and has a hydraulic height of 19.4 feet. With a storage capacity of 105 acre-feet, it primarily serves the purpose of recreation and covers a surface area of 13.2 acres.
Managed by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program, Estes Kefauver is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Its condition assessment in September 2020 deemed it satisfactory, with a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. Despite its uncontrolled spillway type, this dam has no associated locks and is equipped with outlet gates for water release if necessary.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the detailed information available on Estes Kefauver, showcasing the importance of responsible dam management for recreational purposes. This dam's location on Carson Branch in Madisonville, Tennessee, highlights the intersection of human-made structures with natural waterways, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management to ensure the safety of both the dam and the surrounding environment.
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 Estes Kefauver -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 88 cfs | → |
| Sewee Creek Near Decatur | 23 cfs | → |
| Oostanaula Creek Near Sanford | 28 cfs | → |
| Hiwassee River At Charleston | 10,400 cfs | → |
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 130 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Alcoa | 133 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Estes Kefauver.
Boat launches
- Fairview Road 2418, Madisonville
- Notchy Creek Boat Ramp
- Ballplay Boat Ramp
- Toqua Boat Ramp
- Cherokee Drive 1003, Vonore
- Morganton Cemetery Road Loudon County
Campgrounds
- Notchy Creek - Tellico Lake
- Hunt's Lodge Motorcycle Campground
- Toqua Beach - Tellico Lake
- Lotterdale Cove
- Jake Best
- Jake Best Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 48.0) To Tn360 Bridge (Rm 30.0)
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
Track Estes Kefauver 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 Estes Kefauver
Where does the data for Estes Kefauver 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 Significant 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 Estes Kefauver.