Stotts Lake dam
Stotts Lake
Stotts Lake, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is a privately owned reservoir on Tribmary's Creek with a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. Built in 1951, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 15.1 feet and a structural height of 17 feet, with a length of 422 feet and a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet. The lake covers a surface area of 6.6 acres and has a drainage area of 0.06 square miles.
Despite its size, Stotts Lake does not fall under state jurisdiction, regulation, or permitting. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and has no outlet gates. While the last inspection was conducted in October 2017, the dam's condition assessment is listed as "Not Rated," indicating a need for further evaluation. With a five-year inspection frequency, the reservoir's emergency action plan status, risk management measures, and regulatory compliance remain unspecified.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Stotts Lake, its unique characteristics and location in Shelby County, Tennessee, present an intriguing case study on privately owned dams in the region. The reservoir's historical significance, construction details, and risk assessment factors contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with managing water resources in a dynamic environment. Further research and analysis of Stotts Lake's operational practices, emergency preparedness protocols, and long-term sustainability measures could provide valuable insights for improving dam safety and environmental stewardship in similar settings.
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 Stotts Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wolf River At Rossville | 597 cfs | → |
| Wolf River At Germantown | 799 cfs | → |
| Loosahatchie River Near Arlington | 181 cfs | → |
| Nonconnah Creek Near Germantown | 12 cfs | → |
| Fletcher Creek At Sycamore View Road At Memphis | 1 cfs | → |
| Coldwater River Nr Olive Branch | 65 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stotts Lake.
Track Stotts 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 Stotts Lake
Where does the data for Stotts 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 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 Stotts Lake.