Jennings Creek #18 dam
Jennings Creek #18
Jennings Creek #18, also known as Jennings Creek Watershed Dam 18, is a locally owned and state-regulated earth dam located in North Springs, Tennessee. Built in 1963 by the USDA NRCS, this dam serves as a crucial flood risk reduction structure along the Ward Fork river. With a hydraulic height of 28.6 feet and a structural height of 60.5 feet, this dam provides essential protection to the surrounding area with a normal storage capacity of 125 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 1204 acre-feet.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of November 2020, Jennings Creek #18 poses a high hazard potential due to its location and design. The dam, with a length of 535 feet and a surface area of 14.5 acres, is regulated by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and effectiveness in flood risk management. While the dam has no outlet gates, it features an uncontrolled spillway and is built on rock and soil foundations to withstand high volumes of water during periods of intense rainfall.
In the event of an emergency, the dam's owners are responsible for coordinating response efforts, although details about the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) are currently unavailable. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, ongoing risk management measures are essential to ensure the continued safety and functionality of Jennings Creek #18. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the vital role this dam plays in protecting the local community and environment from 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 Jennings Creek #18 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lick Creek Below Red Boiling Springs | 27 cfs | → |
| Roaring River Near Hilham | 10 cfs | → |
| Smith Fork At Temperance Hall | 24 cfs | → |
| Falling Water River Near Cookeville | 24 cfs | → |
| West Fork Obey River Near Alpine | 10 cfs | → |
| Wolf River Near Byrdstown | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Jennings Creek #18.
Boat launches
- Dodson Branch Highway 10281-10325, Gainesboro
- Martins Creek Highway 1179-1299, Granville
- Dekalb County
- Allen County
- Cumberland County
Campgrounds
- Salt Lick Creek - Cordell Hull Lake
- Defeated Creek - Cordell Hull Lake
- Dale Hollow Dam - Dale Hollow Lake
- Standing Stone State Rustic Park
- Edgar Evins State Park
- Cove Hollow - Center Hill Lake
Track Jennings Creek #18 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 Jennings Creek #18
Where does the data for Jennings Creek #18 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 Jennings Creek #18.