Polk dam
Polk
Polk is a privately owned earth dam located in Sumner, Tennessee, completed in 1926 for the primary purposes of fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. This dam stands at a structural height of 25 feet, with a length of 250 feet, and a storage capacity of 47 acre-feet. Despite having a high hazard potential, Polk is currently not rated in terms of its condition assessment.
The dam, managed by the Nashville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, has a drainage area of 0.13 square miles and a surface area of 4.3 acres. While it does not have a controlled spillway, it is crucial for maintaining water resources in the region. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, Polk serves as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring for the safety and sustainability of our water infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Polk to be an intriguing case study in dam management and risk assessment. Its historical significance, combined with its high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, highlight the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of our water infrastructure in Tennessee and beyond. As climate change continues to impact our water resources, the lessons learned from structures like Polk will be essential in safeguarding our communities and ecosystems for the future.
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 Polk -- 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 | → |
| Cumberland River At Woodland St At Nashville | 7,180 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River At Nashville | 5,230 cfs | → |
| Browns Creek At State Fairgrounds At Nashville | 6 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Thompson Lane | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Polk.
Boat launches
- Station Camp Creek Access
- Avondale Access Road 198, Hendersonville
- Rockland Boat Ramp
- Mallard Point Park
- Old Hickory Gallatin
- Burnett Road 827, Nashville
Track Polk 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 Polk
Where does the data for Polk 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 High 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.