Catherine Lake dam
Catherine Lake
Catherine Lake in Otter Creek, Cumberland, Tennessee, is a privately owned earth dam with a height of 27.3 feet and a hydraulic height of 23.8 feet. Built in 1952, the dam serves as a water resource for the area, providing a maximum storage capacity of 508 acre-feet and a normal storage of 367 acre-feet. The lake covers a surface area of 38.6 acres and has a drainage area of 0.32 square miles, with Bagwell Branch serving as the river or stream source.
Managed by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program, Catherine Lake is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement measures to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam has a spillway type of "Uncontrolled" and a significant hazard potential, although its condition assessment as of February 2020 was rated as satisfactory. With a moderate risk assessment level of 3, Catherine Lake remains a vital water source within the region, warranting regular inspections and emergency preparedness protocols to mitigate any potential risks.
Situated in a picturesque location and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Tennessee landscape, Catherine Lake stands as a testament to both the importance of water resource management and the need for climate resilience. As a privately owned dam, it plays a crucial role in providing water storage and recreational opportunities for the local community, while also highlighting the importance of maintaining infrastructure to withstand the challenges posed by a changing climate. With ongoing risk management measures in place, Catherine Lake continues to be a valuable asset for both water enthusiasts and climate advocates alike.
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 Catherine Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Daddys Creek Near Hebbertsburg | 14 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Lilly Bridge Near Lancing | 11 cfs | → |
| Obed River Near Lancing | 599 cfs | → |
| Emory River At Oakdale | 59 cfs | → |
| East Fork Obey River Near Jamestown | 11 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork Near Robbins | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Catherine Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Rock Creek Camground
- East Fork Stables
- Frozen Head State Park
- Mart Fields Campsite
- Old Mac Campsite
- Tub Spring Campsite
Paddle runs
- Center Bridge To Cumberland-Morgan County Line
- I-40 Bridge To Western Boundary Of Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, At Adams Bridge
- Mill Site To Center Bridge
- U.S. 127 Bridge To Morgan County Line
- Tn/Ky State Line To White Oak Junction
More reservoirs
Track Catherine Lake 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 Catherine Lake
Where does the data for Catherine Lake 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 Catherine Lake.