Hale dam
Hale
Hale, located in Cumberland, Tennessee, is a private earth dam built in 1982 with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Situated on Little Laurel Creek, this dam has a hydraulic height of 14.7 feet and a structural height of 19.3 feet. With a storage capacity of 194 acre-feet, it serves recreational purposes as well, covering a surface area of 18.4 acres within a drainage area of 1.84 square miles.
Despite being rated as having low hazard potential and not yet assessed for condition, Hale poses a moderate risk (3) and is subject to inspections every five years. The dam has no spillway and no outlet gates, but its maximum storage capacity is utilized for normal storage of 108 acre-feet. Although it is not state-regulated, inspected, permitted, or enforced, Hale remains an essential structure for fire protection and water storage in the region.
With its humble yet vital role in the local water resource infrastructure, Hale stands as a modest contributor to the conservation and management of water resources in Tennessee. Its historical significance as a fire protection and recreational site underscores the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures for the sustainable utilization of water in the face of climate change and evolving environmental challenges.
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 Hale -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Daddys Creek Near Hebbertsburg | 12 cfs | → |
| Calfkiller River At Hwy 111 Below Sparta | 282 cfs | → |
| Sewee Creek Near Decatur | 23 cfs | → |
| Falling Water River Near Cookeville | 24 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Lilly Bridge Near Lancing | 10 cfs | → |
| Obed River Near Lancing | 599 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hale.
Boat launches
- Monterey Highway 1603-1651, Sparta
- Meigs County
- Blythes Ferry Road 5673, Dayton
- Blythe Ferry Road 6699, Meigs County
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Mill Site To Center Bridge
- I-40 Bridge To Western Boundary Of Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, At Adams Bridge
- Center Bridge To Cumberland-Morgan County Line
- U.S. 127 Bridge To Morgan County Line
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
More reservoirs
Track Hale 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 Hale
Where does the data for Hale 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 Hale.