Ocoee No. 2 Dam dam
Ocoee No. 2 Dam
Located in Polk, Tennessee, the Ocoee No. 2 Dam, also known as Ocoee No. 2 Lake, is a Federal-owned structure managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Built in 1913 by TN Electric Power, this timber crib dam stands at a height of 27 feet and has a length of 450 feet, holding a storage capacity of 175 acre-feet on the Ocoee River. The dam serves a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation and recreation, with a spillway width of 436 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 183,000 cubic feet per second.
With a high hazard potential, the Ocoee No. 2 Dam has undergone structural modifications in 1939 and is inspected every two years by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The dam features slide, tainter, and uncontrolled outlet gates to manage water flow. Despite its age, the condition assessment of the dam is not available, and it is classified as having a moderate risk level. The emergency action plan for the dam was last revised in July 2020, ensuring preparedness in the event of any unforeseen incidents. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Ocoee No. 2 Dam to be a significant structure contributing to both energy generation 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. 2 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 256 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Crandall | 7 cfs | → |
| Oostanaula Creek Near Sanford | 32 cfs | → |
| Hiwassee River At Charleston | 10,400 cfs | → |
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 122 cfs | → |
| Toccoa River Near Dial | 265 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ocoee No. 2 Dam.
Boat launches
- Ellis Creek Road 155, Reliance
- Powerhouse Road 820-832, Reliance
- Apalachia Powerhouse Launch
- Towee Creek Launch
- Sugar Loaf Drive Polk County
- Toccoa Avenue 104, Mccaysville
Campgrounds
- Thunder Rock Campground
- Thunder Rock
- Tumbling Creek Campground
- Tumbling Creek
- Parksville Lake Recreation Area
- Parksville
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Southern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Peter Cove To Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Alaculsy
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
Track Ocoee No. 2 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. 2 Dam
Where does the data for Ocoee No. 2 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. 2 Dam.