Cox dam
Cox
Located in Cumberland, Tennessee, the Cox dam on Downing Creek was completed in 1952 and stands at a height of 19 feet with a hydraulic height of 17 feet. With a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, this earth dam serves multiple purposes, although its primary purpose is unspecified. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, with no outlet gates and a significant hazard potential.
Despite being privately owned, Cox dam is not regulated by the state of Tennessee and does not require permitting, inspection, or enforcement. The dam is situated in an area with a moderate risk assessment and a drainage area of 0.46 square miles. While its condition is not rated, the dam undergoes inspections every five years to ensure its structural integrity. John W. Rose (R) represents the area in the US Congress, but the dam does not fall under any congressional jurisdiction.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Cox dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned structure that plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Its design and construction in the early 1950s reflect the engineering practices of the time, while its current risk assessment and lack of regulatory oversight raise questions about the dam's long-term sustainability and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions. Further research and monitoring of this dam could provide valuable insights into the intersection of water management, infrastructure resilience, and climate adaptation efforts in the Cumberland area.
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 Cox -- 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 | → |
| Calfkiller River At Hwy 111 Below Sparta | 282 cfs | → |
| Falling Water River Near Cookeville | 18 cfs | → |
| West Fork Obey River Near Alpine | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cox.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- I-40 Bridge To Western Boundary Of Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, At Adams Bridge
- U.S. 127 Bridge To Morgan County Line
- Center Bridge To Cumberland-Morgan County Line
- Mill Site To Center Bridge
- Tn/Ky State Line To White Oak Junction
More reservoirs
Track Cox 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 Cox
Where does the data for Cox 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 Cox.