Elmwood Tailings dam
Elmwood Tailings
Elmwood Tailings, located in Carthage, Tennessee, is a private-owned dam used for tailings storage. Built in 1974, this dam stands at a structural height of 107 feet and has a hydraulic height of 92.5 feet. With a storage capacity of 4,337 acre-feet, Elmwood Tailings sits on the Tributary Fork River and covers a surface area of 71 acres.
Managed by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program, Elmwood Tailings is classified as a significant hazard with a satisfactory condition assessment. Inspected regularly, the dam has an inspection frequency of every two years, with the last inspection conducted in December 2020. Despite its moderate risk rating, Elmwood Tailings does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, raising questions about its preparedness for potential emergencies.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Elmwood Tailings can appreciate its unique design as an "Other" dam type with a buttress core. With its location in Smith County, Tennessee, and its association with the Mine Safety and Health Administration for regulatory oversight, Elmwood Tailings presents an intriguing case study for those concerned with the intersection of mining activities, dam safety, and environmental stewardship.
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 Elmwood Tailings -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith Fork At Temperance Hall | 77 cfs | → |
| Salt Lick Creek Below Red Boiling Springs | 27 cfs | → |
| Falling Water River Near Cookeville | 152 cfs | → |
| Roaring River Near Hilham | 32 cfs | → |
| East Fork Stones River Near Lascassas | 110 cfs | → |
| Calfkiller River At Hwy 111 Below Sparta | 282 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elmwood Tailings.
Boat launches
- Martins Creek Highway 1179-1299, Granville
- Dekalb County
- Dodson Branch Highway 10281-10325, Gainesboro
- Ramsey Road 1000, Lebanon
- Coles Ferry Pike 6905, Lebanon
Campgrounds
- Defeated Creek - Cordell Hull Lake
- Salt Lick Creek - Cordell Hull Lake
- Long Branch - Center Hill Lake
- Cove Hollow - Center Hill Lake
- Edgar Evins State Park
- Holmes Creek - Center Hill Lake
Track Elmwood Tailings 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 Elmwood Tailings
Where does the data for Elmwood Tailings 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 Elmwood Tailings.