Sparks dam
Sparks
Sparks, located in Blount, Tennessee, is a private earth dam constructed in 1986 primarily for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. The dam, standing at a structural height of 23.7 feet and a hydraulic height of 20.5 feet, has a maximum storage capacity of 30 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 2.5 acres. With a drainage area of 0.07 square miles, Sparks is fed by TribSix Mile Creek and is under the jurisdiction of the Nashville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite being rated as "significant" in terms of hazard potential, Sparks has not undergone a formal condition assessment and is currently not regulated by the state. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and it does not have any outlet gates. The last inspection of Sparks took place in August 2016, with a scheduled inspection frequency of every 5 years. While the risk assessment for Sparks is classified as moderate, additional risk management measures and emergency action plans have not been reported for this structure.
As enthusiasts of water resources and climate monitoring, the unique characteristics and risk profile of Sparks present an intriguing case study for understanding the management and maintenance of small dams in Tennessee. With its location in a rural area and potential impact on the local ecosystem, continued monitoring and evaluation of Sparks will be essential to ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital water resource for fire protection, livestock, and aquatic life in the region.
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 Sparks -- 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 | → |
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 132 cfs | → |
| Little River Above Townsend | 93 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Solway | 32 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 102 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sparks.
Boat launches
- Calderwood Highway 6676, Blount County
- Calderwood Highway Blount County
- Citico Boat Ramp
- Cherokee Drive 1003, Vonore
- T V A Access Blount County
- Alcoa Water Plant Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Look Rock Campground
- Look Rock - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Abrams Creek - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Abrams Creek Campground
- 1 Cooper Road
- #01 Cooper Road
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Polecat Branch To Snowbird Picnic Area
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 48.0) To Tn360 Bridge (Rm 30.0)
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Natahala Powerhouse To Lake Fontana (River Mile 4)
Track Sparks 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 Sparks
Where does the data for Sparks 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.