Luther Lake #5 dam
Luther Lake #5
Luther Lake #5, located in Dickson, Tennessee, was completed in 1950 and serves multiple purposes, including fire protection and providing a habitat for small fish. This private earth dam structure has a hydraulic height of 18 feet and a structural height of 21 feet, with a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet. The lake covers a surface area of 3 acres and is fed by TRIBNAILS CREEK.
Despite its high hazard potential, Luther Lake #5 is currently not rated for its condition assessment. The dam has an inspection frequency of 5 years, with the last inspection conducted in November 2020. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, with a risk level of 3. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, it meets regulatory guidelines and has not had any significant modifications in recent years.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate monitoring will find Luther Lake #5 to be an intriguing site to study and monitor. With its unique design and multiple purposes, the lake serves as a valuable resource for the surrounding area. As efforts continue to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam, researchers and enthusiasts alike can track its conditions and potential risks over time.
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 Luther Lake #5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Harpeth River Near Kingston Springs | 34 cfs | → |
| Copperas Branch Near Kingfield | 1 cfs | → |
| Piney River At Vernon | 79 cfs | → |
| Harpeth River At Bellevue | 41 cfs | → |
| Duck River At Hwy 100 At Centerville | 528 cfs | → |
| Harpeth River Below Franklin | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Luther Lake #5.
Boat launches
- Brush Creek Recreational Area
- Cheatham County
- Cleeces Ferry Boat Ramp
- River Trail Maury County
- Marrowbone Lake Road 6398, Nashville-Davidson
- Willie Shanes Road 115, Hickman County
Campgrounds
- Woodland Shelter
- Montgomery Bell State Park
- Wildcat Shelter
- Harpeth River Bridge
- Camping Municipal
- Tennessee Highway 50 Bicycle-Only Campground, At Milepost 408
Track Luther Lake #5 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 Luther Lake #5
Where does the data for Luther Lake #5 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.