Alcoa dam
Alcoa
Alcoa, located in Blount, Tennessee, is a local government-owned dam regulated by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program. Built in 1991, this earth dam stands at a height of 34 feet and has a hydraulic height of 22.5 feet. With a storage capacity of 177 acre-feet and a surface area of 9.2 acres, Alcoa serves a vital role in water resource management in the area.
Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure, Alcoa is subject to regular inspections, with the last one conducted in January 2020 and deemed to be in satisfactory condition. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are currently unspecified, but its risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk. Alcoa's location within the Nashville District and its proximity to the Tim Burchett (R) congressional representative highlight its importance in the region's water infrastructure landscape.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Alcoa presents an intriguing case study in local government dam ownership and regulation. Its presence underscores the critical role of earth dams in managing water resources, and its moderate risk assessment prompts further exploration into risk management strategies. As the Tennessee Safe Dams Program oversees its operations, Alcoa stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to maintain and safeguard our water infrastructure 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 Alcoa -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Alcoa | 131 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Maryville | 135 cfs | → |
| Little River Above Townsend | 93 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Solway | 32 cfs | → |
| Little Pigeon River At Sevierville | 162 cfs | → |
| Bullrun Creek Near Halls Crossroads | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alcoa.
Boat launches
- Alcoa Water Plant Boat Ramp
- Co Op Road 4406, Rockford
- Topside Road 2317, Louisville
- Alcoa Highway Knoxville
- Maloney Road Park Boat Ramp
- Louisville Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Poland Creek
- #03 Hesse Creek
- #02 Cane Creek
- 2 Cane Creek
- Look Rock - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Look Rock Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 48.0) To Tn360 Bridge (Rm 30.0)
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Natahala Powerhouse To Lake Fontana (River Mile 4)
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
Track Alcoa 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 Alcoa
Where does the data for Alcoa 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 Low 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 Alcoa.