Mckamy Dam dam
Mckamy Dam
Mckamy Dam, located in Polk County, Tennessee, is a Federal-owned structure managed by the USDA Forest Service. Completed in 1937, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 26 feet and stretches 330 feet in length, with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. The dam's reservoir has a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 9 acres, providing essential habitat for aquatic wildlife and recreational opportunities for visitors.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Mckamy Dam is considered to have a very high risk level due to its age and structural condition. The dam is equipped with a Controlled spillway and Vertical Lift outlet gates for water management. While the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," regular inspections and risk management measures are crucial for ensuring the safety and integrity of the structure. The surrounding Mckamy Branch river and stream, as well as the nearby community of Benton, TN, benefit from the ecological and recreational value provided by Mckamy Dam and its reservoir.
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 Mckamy Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hiwassee River At Charleston | 10,400 cfs | → |
| Oostanaula Creek Near Sanford | 32 cfs | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 259 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Crandall | 8 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 131 cfs | → |
| Conasauga River Near Eton | 180 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mckamy Dam.
Boat launches
- Dentville Road 266-362, Benton
- Sugar Loaf Drive Polk County
- Patty Road 1527, Delano
- Highway 30 5514, Benton
- Ellis Creek Road 155, Reliance
- Apalachia Powerhouse Launch
Campgrounds
- Chilhowee Campground
- Chilhowee Rec Area
- Chilhowee Recreation Area
- Parksville Lake Campground
- Parksville
- Parksville Lake Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
- Southern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Peter Cove To Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Alaculsy
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
Track Mckamy Dam 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 Mckamy Dam
Where does the data for Mckamy Dam 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 Mckamy Dam.