Ocoee No. 1 Dam dam
Ocoee No. 1 Dam
Ocoee No. 1 Dam, also known as Parksville Lake, is a concrete dam located on the Ocoee River in Polk, Tennessee. Built in 1911 by TN Electric Power, this dam stands at a height of 127 feet and has a structural height of 135 feet. It serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, and recreation, with a normal storage capacity of 79,320 acre-feet.
Managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Ocoee No. 1 Dam has a high hazard potential due to its proximity to populated areas. The dam has undergone several modifications over the years, with the most recent in 1975 to enhance its structural integrity. Despite its age, the dam is regularly inspected by TVA to ensure its safety and reliability, with the last inspection conducted in March 2021.
With a drainage area of 595 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 26,620 cubic feet per second, Ocoee No. 1 Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Its strategic location and design make it a significant asset for flood control, energy production, and recreational activities along the Ocoee River.
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 Ocoee No. 1 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hiwassee River At Charleston | 10,400 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Crandall | 8 cfs | → |
| Oostanaula Creek Near Sanford | 32 cfs | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 259 cfs | → |
| Conasauga River Near Eton | 180 cfs | → |
| Holly Creek Near Chatsworth | 37 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ocoee No. 1 Dam.
Boat launches
- Sugar Loaf Drive Polk County
- Dentville Road 266-362, Benton
- Patty Road 1527, Delano
- Ellis Creek Road 155, Reliance
- Highway 30 5514, Benton
- Powerhouse Road 820-832, Reliance
Campgrounds
- Chilhowee Campground
- Parksville Lake Campground
- Parksville Lake Recreation Area
- Parksville
- Chilhowee Rec Area
- Chilhowee Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 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
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
Track Ocoee No. 1 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 Ocoee No. 1 Dam
Where does the data for Ocoee No. 1 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 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 Ocoee No. 1 Dam.