Gypsum Pond dam
Gypsum Pond
Gypsum Pond, located in Polk, Tennessee, is a privately-owned dam regulated by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program. Completed in 1972, this Earth-type dam stands at a structural height of 56.6 feet, with a hydraulic height of 48.8 feet and a length of 700 feet. The pond boasts a storage capacity of 1270 acre-feet, serving as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area.
With a surface area of 17 acres and a drainage area of 0.63 square miles, Gypsum Pond plays a significant role in managing water flow and storage. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition was assessed as satisfactory during its last inspection in May 2020. The risk assessment for Gypsum Pond is moderate, indicating a balanced level of potential risk and the need for ongoing monitoring and management measures to ensure its safety and functionality.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Gypsum Pond to be a captivating example of infrastructure that contributes to water management in the region. With its regulated status, storage capacity, and risk assessment, this dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of water resources, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship in Tennessee.
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 Gypsum Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 256 cfs | → |
| Toccoa River Near Dial | 265 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Crandall | 7 cfs | → |
| Valley River At Tomotla | 110 cfs | → |
| Cartecay River Near Ellijay | 156 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 122 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gypsum Pond.
Boat launches
- Toccoa Avenue 104, Mccaysville
- Mallard Point Road 109, Fannin County
- Powerhouse Road 820-832, Reliance
- Apalachia Powerhouse Launch
- Micken Branch Cherokee County
- Towee Creek Launch
Campgrounds
- Tumbling Creek Campground
- Tumbling Creek
- Thunder Rock
- Thunder Rock Campground
- Lost Creek Campground
- Big Lost Creek
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Southern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Peter Cove To Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Alaculsy
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
Track Gypsum Pond 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 Gypsum Pond
Where does the data for Gypsum Pond 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 Gypsum Pond.