Boston Branch dam
Boston Branch
Boston Branch is a private dam located in Hamilton, Tennessee, with a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment. Built in 1968, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 52.7 feet and a hydraulic height of 45.3 feet, with a storage capacity of 478 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of water resource management, holding back the waters of the Boston Branch stream within its 345-foot length.
Managed by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program, this dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safe operation. Despite its moderate risk level, Boston Branch has not required any emergency action plans or inundation maps, indicating a stable and well-maintained structure. As a crucial component of the water infrastructure in the area, this dam plays a vital role in managing water resources and protecting against potential flooding events.
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 Boston Branch -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Chickamauga Creek Near Montlake | 0 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Cr At Mile Straight | 2 cfs | → |
| Sequatchie River Near Whitwell | 152 cfs | → |
| South Chickamauga Creek Near Chickamauga | 168 cfs | → |
| Lookout Creek Near New England | 69 cfs | → |
| Hiwassee River At Charleston | 10,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Boston Branch.
Boat launches
- Armstrong Road 11304, Hamilton County
- Greenway Farms Chattanooga
- Vincent Road 5163-5513, Chattanooga
- Turkey Foot Road, Chattanooga
- South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Chattanooga
- Hamilton County
Campgrounds
- Chester Frost Park
- Harrison Bay State Park
- Skull Island - Chickamauga Lake
- Possum Creek Rv - Chickamauga Lake
- Sale Creek - Chickamauga Lake
- Savage Gulf
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
- Southern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Peter Cove To Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Alaculsy
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
More reservoirs
Track Boston Branch 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 Boston Branch
Where does the data for Boston Branch 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 Boston Branch.