Lambert dam
Lambert
Lambert, located in Blount County, Tennessee, is a privately owned earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. Completed in 1965, this dam on Big Spring Branch has a hydraulic height of 48.4 feet and a structural height of 53.9 feet, with a storage capacity of 454 acre-feet. The dam has a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, making it a key structure for water resource and climate management in the area.
Despite its importance, Lambert has not been rated for its condition assessment and lacks emergency action plans and inundation maps. The last inspection in August 2016 highlighted its high hazard potential, prompting a five-year inspection frequency. With no outlet gates and an uncontrolled spillway, the dam poses a significant risk, emphasizing the need for proactive risk management measures to ensure public safety and water resource sustainability in the region.
As a valuable asset for fire protection, stock, and recreation, Lambert serves as a critical infrastructure in the Nashville District of Tennessee. With its location in Sixmile and its key role in managing water resources in the area, Lambert stands as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams for sustainable water management practices and climate resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Lambert -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Maryville | 135 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Alcoa | 131 cfs | → |
| Little River Above Townsend | 93 cfs | → |
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 132 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Solway | 32 cfs | → |
| Little Pigeon River At Sevierville | 162 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lambert.
Boat launches
- Calderwood Highway 6676, Blount County
- Calderwood Highway Blount County
- Alcoa Water Plant Boat Ramp
- Citico Boat Ramp
- Louisville Boat Ramp
- Topside Road 2317, Louisville
Campgrounds
- Look Rock - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Look Rock Campground
- #01 Cooper Road
- 1 Cooper Road
- 2 Cane Creek
- #02 Cane Creek
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 48.0) To Tn360 Bridge (Rm 30.0)
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Natahala Powerhouse To Lake Fontana (River Mile 4)
Track Lambert 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 Lambert
Where does the data for Lambert 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.