Highlands Springs Cove dam
Highlands Springs Cove
Highlands Springs Cove is a privately owned earth dam located in Grainger County, Tennessee, along the Richland Creek. Built in 1976, this dam stands at a structural height of 35.2 feet, with a hydraulic height of 28.8 feet, and a length of 200 feet. The reservoir has a normal storage capacity of 40 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 63 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 3.4 acres and draining a 0.32 square mile area.
With a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Highlands Springs Cove is an essential feature within the local water resource management infrastructure. Although not currently regulated or inspected by state agencies, the dam serves as a critical component in the watershed, impacting the local ecosystem and water supply. As an uncontrolled spillway type dam, it presents both challenges and opportunities for climate and water resource enthusiasts to study and understand its impact on the surrounding environment.
Given its location and characteristics, Highlands Springs Cove provides a fascinating case study for those interested in the intersection between water resource management, climate change, and infrastructure resilience. With its unique design features, storage capacity, and risk assessment profile, this dam offers valuable insights into the complexities of managing water resources in the face of evolving 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 Highlands Springs Cove -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clinch River Above Tazewell | 512 cfs | → |
| Bullrun Creek Near Halls Crossroads | 15 cfs | → |
| Powell River Near Arthur | 266 cfs | → |
| Little Pigeon River At Sevierville | 153 cfs | → |
| Nolichucky River Near Lowland | 660 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Newport | 705 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Highlands Springs Cove.
Boat launches
- Nance Ferry Road Grainger County
- Claiborne County
- Renfro Road 2637, Jefferson City
- Tva Dam Road, Jefferson City
- Grainger County Park Boat Launch
- Highway 33 South 5799, Claiborne County
Campgrounds
- Cherokee Dam
- May Springs
- Camp Cargill
- Panther Creek State Park
- Big Ridge State Park
- Bunch Hollow Campground & Resort
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Highlands Springs Cove 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 Highlands Springs Cove
Where does the data for Highlands Springs Cove 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 Highlands Springs Cove.