Beecher Smith dam
Beecher Smith
Beecher Smith, located in Bledsoe, Tennessee, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1965 on Beaverdam Creek. With a height of 21 feet and a hydraulic height of 17.7 feet, this dam serves a critical role in water resource management by providing a storage capacity of 95 acre-feet. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam is currently not rated in terms of condition assessment.
Managed by the Nashville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Beecher Smith has a moderate risk level and undergoes inspections every five years. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a spillway width of 0 feet. While the dam does not have outlet gates, it plays a vital role in flood control and water supply for the surrounding area. Additionally, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plans are not fully detailed, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and functionality of this essential infrastructure.
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 Beecher Smith -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Calfkiller River At Hwy 111 Below Sparta | 282 cfs | → |
| Sewee Creek Near Decatur | 24 cfs | → |
| Daddys Creek Near Hebbertsburg | 11 cfs | → |
| Collins River Near Mcminnville | 198 cfs | → |
| Falling Water River Near Cookeville | 41 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Creek Near Montlake | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Beecher Smith.
Boat launches
- Blythes Ferry Road 5673, Dayton
- Blythe Ferry Road 6699, Meigs County
- Monterey Highway 1603-1651, Sparta
- Meigs County
- Tn 58 3829, Meigs County
- Armstrong Road 11304, Hamilton County
Campgrounds
- Backcountry Camp 1
- Backcountry Camp 3
- Backcountry Camp 2
- Sale Creek - Chickamauga Lake
- Savage Gulf
- Dinky Line
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
- U.S. 127 Bridge To Morgan County Line
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
More reservoirs
Track Beecher Smith 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 Beecher Smith
Where does the data for Beecher Smith 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 Beecher Smith.