Bethea dam
Bethea
Bethea, located in Robertson, Tennessee, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1978 for recreational purposes along the TribSulphur Fork river. The dam stands at a hydraulic height of 28.2 feet and a structural height of 31.2 feet, with a length of 698 feet and a storage capacity of 121 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Bethea has not been rated for its condition assessment, and its last inspection took place in March 2016.
With a normal storage capacity of 94 acre-feet and a surface area of 8.3 acres, Bethea serves as a multipurpose structure for fire protection, stock, small fish ponds, and recreation. While the dam's spillway type is uncontrolled and it has no outlet gates, its maintenance and management are crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of its surrounding environment. As a water resource and climate enthusiast, understanding the intricacies of Bethea's design, purpose, and risk assessment can provide valuable insights into how human-made structures interact with natural water systems.
As a water resource enthusiast, Bethea's location, design, and operational data offer a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of human infrastructure and environmental impact. Its role in water management and recreation within the Nashville District showcases the importance of responsible dam ownership and maintenance in safeguarding both public safety and ecological balance. For those passionate about water resources and climate resilience, Bethea represents a case study in the delicate balance between human needs and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water demands.
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 Bethea -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Creek Near Edenwold | 3 cfs | → |
| Whites Creek Near Bordeaux | 35 cfs | → |
| Sycamore Creek Near Ashland City | 108 cfs | → |
| Red River At Port Royal | 1,440 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River At Woodland St At Nashville | 7,180 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River At Nashville | 5,230 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bethea.
Boat launches
- Marrowbone Lake Road 6398, Nashville-Davidson
- Rockland Boat Ramp
- Burnett Road 827, Nashville
- Mallard Point Park
- Lock 2 Road, Nashville
- Old Hickory Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Cages Bend - Old Hickory Lake
- Cedar Creek - Old Hickory Lake
- Camp Light
- Camping Municipal
- Harpeth River Bridge
- Bledsoe Creek State Park
More reservoirs
Track Bethea 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 Bethea
Where does the data for Bethea 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 Bethea.