John Graham dam
John Graham
John Graham is a state-regulated dam located in Madison, Tennessee, along the Brown Creek. Managed by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 51 feet with a hydraulic height of 38 feet. Completed in 1981, it boasts a storage capacity of 13,841 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 439 acres, serving a drainage area of 9.12 square miles.
With a high hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of January 2021, John Graham is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and no outlet gates. Despite its moderate risk rating, the dam has not been modified in recent years and is subject to regular inspections by the state regulatory agency. Its emergency action plan status and risk management measures are currently unspecified, suggesting a potential area for improvement in ensuring the safety and resilience of this crucial water resource infrastructure.
Located within the Memphis District and overseen by the Tennessee state government, John Graham represents a vital component of the region's water resource management infrastructure. Its role in flood control and water storage underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate risks and safeguard against potential hazards, highlighting the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience for enthusiasts in the field.
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 John Graham -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Fork Forked Deer River Near Fairview | 82 cfs | → |
| South Fork Forked Deer River Near Owl City | 357 cfs | → |
| Hatchie River At Bolivar | 3,020 cfs | → |
| South Fork Obion River Near Greenfield | 153 cfs | → |
| Crooked Creek Near Huntingdon | 38 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy River At Bruceton | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near John Graham.
Boat launches
Paddle runs
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Track John Graham 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 John Graham
Where does the data for John Graham 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 John Graham.