Dunaway dam
Dunaway
Dunaway is a privately owned dam located in Sequatchie, Tennessee, specifically in the city of Tatesville. Built in 1969, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 31 feet, with a hydraulic height of 22 feet, and a length of 318 feet. Its primary purpose is for recreation, offering a surface area of 75 acres and a drainage area of 6.84 square miles.
Managed and regulated by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program, Dunaway has a low hazard potential and is deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in October 2020. With a normal storage capacity of 525 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 1360 acre-feet, this dam on Dunaway Creek is an integral part of the local water resource infrastructure. Despite its moderate risk assessment score of 3, Dunaway continues to serve its purpose effectively while adhering to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement guidelines.
Given its recreational significance and essential role in water management, Dunaway is a notable feature in the Nashville District. With no associated structures or federal agency involvement, this dam remains a key component in the state's overall water resource strategy. Its location, design, and regulatory oversight make it a vital asset for both the local community and the broader ecosystem in the region.
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 Dunaway -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sequatchie River Near Whitwell | 152 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Creek Near Montlake | 0 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Cr At Mile Straight | 2 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Pelham | 31 cfs | → |
| Collins River Near Mcminnville | 198 cfs | → |
| Bradley Creek Nr Prairie Plains | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dunaway.
Boat launches
- Bennett Lake Road 257-463, Whitwell
- Armstrong Road 11304, Hamilton County
- Raccoon Mountain Road 2510, Chattanooga
- Hamilton County
- Greenway Farms Chattanooga
- Hales Bar Road 950, Guild
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Mill Site To Center Bridge
- I-40 Bridge To Western Boundary Of Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, At Adams Bridge
- Center Bridge To Cumberland-Morgan County Line
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
Track Dunaway 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 Dunaway
Where does the data for Dunaway 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.