Kagley dam
Kagley
Kagley, a privately owned dam located in Blount, Tennessee, was completed in 1964 and serves as a crucial water resource on TribSix Mile Creek. With a hydraulic height of 24.7 feet and a structural height of 27.6 feet, Kagley has a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. Despite not being state regulated or permitted, this earth dam has a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 46 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 4.6 acres.
The dam's spillway is classified as "Uncontrolled" with no outlet gates, and it has not been inspected since August 2016, with an inspection frequency of every 5 years. While the condition assessment is currently "Not Rated," the risk management measures and emergency action plan status remain unclear. Kagley's location in Wellsville and its proximity to the Nashville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers make it a site of interest for water resource and climate enthusiasts looking to understand the complexities of dam infrastructure in the region.
Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find Kagley to be a compelling case study due to its unique characteristics and risk factors. With a history dating back to the 1960s, this earth dam presents challenges in terms of hazard potential and risk assessment. The dam's role in managing water levels on TribSix Mile Creek, combined with its lack of state regulation and permitting, adds complexity to its operational and safety considerations. As efforts to monitor and assess the condition of dams like Kagley continue, there is much to learn about the intersection of water resources, climate resilience, and infrastructure management in Tennessee's diverse landscape.
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 Kagley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Maryville | 139 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Alcoa | 142 cfs | → |
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 134 cfs | → |
| Little River Above Townsend | 102 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 108 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Solway | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kagley.
Boat launches
- Calderwood Highway 6676, Blount County
- Citico Boat Ramp
- Calderwood Highway Blount County
- Cherokee Drive 1003, Vonore
- Toqua Boat Ramp
- Morganton Cemetery Road Loudon County
Campgrounds
- Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort
- Look Rock Campground
- Look Rock - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Abrams Creek - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Abrams Creek Campground
- 1 Cooper Road
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 48.0) To Tn360 Bridge (Rm 30.0)
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Natahala Powerhouse To Lake Fontana (River Mile 4)
Track Kagley 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 Kagley
Where does the data for Kagley 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.