Lake Lookout dam
Lake Lookout
Lake Lookout, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a private earth dam with a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a structural height of 23 feet. Completed in 1800, this reservoir has a storage capacity of 151 acre-feet and a surface area of 9 acres, serving as a tributary to the Tennessee River. The dam poses a high hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition.
Despite its age, Lake Lookout remains a vital water resource for the surrounding area, with a drainage area of 0.26 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 46 acre-feet. While the dam does not have an outlet gate, its spillway is uncontrolled, with a width of 0 feet. The reservoir's risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety of nearby communities.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the unique features and historical significance of Lake Lookout make it a compelling site for further study and exploration. With its proximity to the Tennessee River and its role in local water management, this reservoir offers a valuable opportunity to examine the intersection of natural resources, infrastructure, and environmental risk in a dynamic and evolving landscape.
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 Lake Lookout -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Chickamauga Creek Near Chickamauga | 132 cfs | → |
| Lookout Creek Near New England | 61 cfs | → |
| Sequatchie River Near Whitwell | 144 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Cr At Mile Straight | 1 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Creek Near Montlake | 0 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Dalton | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Lookout.
Boat launches
- Cummings Highway Chattanooga
- Hamilton County
- Tennessee Riverwalk Chattanooga
- Raccoon Mountain Road 2510, Chattanooga
- Market Street Chattanooga
- U.S. 41 18039, Chattanooga
Campgrounds
- Marion County Park
- Shellmound - Nickajack Dam Reservation
- Primitive Campsite 2
- Chester Frost Park
- Primitive Campsite 1
- Walk-In 20
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
Track Lake Lookout 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 Lake Lookout
Where does the data for Lake Lookout 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 Lake Lookout.