Upper Lake dam
Upper Lake
Upper Lake, located in Dickson, Tennessee, is a vital water resource managed by the local government. This earth dam, completed in 1958, spans 500 feet in length and has a hydraulic height of 16 feet, providing a storage capacity of 570 acre-feet. The lake serves as a key component in regulating the flow of the East Piney River and has a normal storage capacity of 50 acre-feet.
With a high hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, Upper Lake is closely monitored and regulated by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and it has no outlet gates. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam remains a crucial structure for water management and flood control in the region.
Water and climate enthusiasts will appreciate Upper Lake's significance in the local ecosystem and its role in maintaining water quality and quantity for the surrounding area. As a state-regulated and inspected dam, Upper Lake exemplifies responsible water resource management and underscores the importance of infrastructure maintenance in adapting to 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 Upper Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Piney River At Vernon | 79 cfs | → |
| Harpeth River Near Kingston Springs | 34 cfs | → |
| Yellow Creek At Ellis Mills | 31 cfs | → |
| Duck River At Hwy 100 At Centerville | 528 cfs | → |
| Copperas Branch Near Kingfield | 1 cfs | → |
| Duck River Above Hurricane Mills | 777 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Lake.
Boat launches
- Cheatham County
- Brush Creek Recreational Area
- Willie Shanes Road 115, Hickman County
- Gaynor Slough Boat Ramp
- Humphreys County
- Cleeces Ferry Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Montgomery Bell State Park
- Woodland Shelter
- Wildcat Shelter
- Harpeth River Bridge
- Camp Isengard
- Tennessee Highway 50 Bicycle-Only Campground, At Milepost 408
Paddle runs
- Bethel Bridge On County Road 6174 To Confluence With Duck River
- The Henryville Bridge Crossing On County Road 6230 To Bethel Bridge On County Road 6174
More reservoirs
Track Upper 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 Upper Lake
Where does the data for Upper 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 High 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 Upper Lake.