Big Oak dam
Big Oak
Big Oak is a private recreational dam located in Maury, Tennessee, along the TRIBDOUBLE BRANCH CREEK. Built in 1985, this earth dam stands at 23 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 16 feet and a length of 477 feet. It has a storage capacity of 304 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 114 acre-feet and a surface area of 16.6 acres. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is currently in satisfactory condition and is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 80 feet and does not have any outlet gates or associated structures. The primary purpose of Big Oak is for recreation, and it is situated within the Nashville District. The last inspection was conducted in July 2020, with a frequency of one inspection per year. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, there are no emergency action plans in place, but the dam meets regulatory guidelines and is managed to mitigate potential risks. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Big Oak presents an interesting case study of a privately owned recreational dam with important regulatory oversight and risk management measures in place.
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 Big Oak -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Duck River At Columbia | 214 cfs | → |
| Duck River Above Milltown | 187 cfs | → |
| Fountain Creek Near Fountain Heights | 3 cfs | → |
| Big Rock Cr At Double Bridges | 3 cfs | → |
| Harpeth River At Franklin | 24 cfs | → |
| Copperas Branch Near Kingfield | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Oak.
Boat launches
- Carpenter Bridge Road 2308, Columbia
- Iron Bridge Road 918, Columbia
- Riverside Drive 302, Columbia
- Howards Bridge Boat Access
- Sowell Mill Pike 3181-3183, Columbia
- River Trail Maury County
Campgrounds
Track Big Oak 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 Big Oak
Where does the data for Big Oak 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 Big Oak.