City Lake dam
City Lake
City Lake, located in Putnam, Tennessee, is a concrete dam constructed in 1948 on the Falling Water River. Managed by the local government, this dam serves as a vital water resource for the region, with a storage capacity of 570 acre-feet and a surface area of 62 acres. The dam stands at a hydraulic height of 23 feet, providing flood control and water supply benefits to the community.
Despite its age, City Lake's dam is in satisfactory condition with a low hazard potential, as per the most recent inspection in 2019. The Tennessee Safe Dams Program oversees the regulatory aspects of the dam, ensuring that it meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, risk management measures are in place to mitigate any potential issues that may arise. City Lake is a valuable asset to the area, providing environmental, recreational, and water management benefits to residents and visitors alike.
With its picturesque location and important role in water resource management, City Lake serves as a symbol of resilience and stewardship in the face of climate challenges. As climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to recognize the significance of sustainable water infrastructure like City Lake in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of a changing climate. By supporting responsible water management practices and investing in the maintenance and improvement of dams like City Lake, we can ensure a more secure and sustainable future for our communities and the 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 City Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Falling Water River Near Cookeville | 24 cfs | → |
| Calfkiller River At Hwy 111 Below Sparta | 282 cfs | → |
| Roaring River Near Hilham | 10 cfs | → |
| West Fork Obey River Near Alpine | 10 cfs | → |
| Smith Fork At Temperance Hall | 24 cfs | → |
| East Fork Obey River Near Jamestown | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near City Lake.
Boat launches
- Monterey Highway 1603-1651, Sparta
- Dodson Branch Highway 10281-10325, Gainesboro
- Martins Creek Highway 1179-1299, Granville
- Dekalb County
Campgrounds
- Floating Mill - Center Hill Lake
- Edgar Evins State Park
- Holmes Creek - Center Hill Lake
- Cove Hollow - Center Hill Lake
- Long Branch - Center Hill Lake
- Salt Lick Creek - Cordell Hull Lake
Paddle runs
- U.S. 127 Bridge To Morgan County Line
- I-40 Bridge To Western Boundary Of Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, At Adams Bridge
- Mill Site To Center Bridge
- Center Bridge To Cumberland-Morgan County Line
More reservoirs
Track City Lake 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 City Lake
Where does the data for City Lake 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.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of City Lake.