Walter Hill Lake dam
Walter Hill Lake
Located in Walterhill, Tennessee, Walter Hill Lake is a concrete dam that was completed in 1918 along the East Fork Stones River. With a structural height of 14 feet and a storage capacity of 300 acre-feet, this reservoir covers 50 acres and serves as a significant source of water for the surrounding area. Despite its historical significance and essential role in water resource management, the dam's condition assessment is currently marked as unsatisfactory, posing a significant hazard potential.
Managed by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program, Walter Hill Lake is subject to regular state inspection, permitting, and enforcement to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. The dam's spillway type is classified as uncontrolled, and it has no outlet gates. While the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, efforts to address the unsatisfactory condition and mitigate potential hazards are crucial for the continued protection of the local community and water resources. As a beloved local landmark, Walter Hill Lake stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience in Tennessee.
With its rich history dating back over a century, Walter Hill Lake serves as a vital water resource for the residents of Rutherford County. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the importance of maintaining and enhancing the infrastructure of dams like Walter Hill Lake becomes increasingly evident. By prioritizing safety, regulatory compliance, and risk management measures, stakeholders can ensure the long-term sustainability of this essential water source for generations to come.
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 Walter Hill Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork Stones River Near Lascassas | 42 cfs | → |
| West Fork Stones River At Murfreesboro | 107 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Nolensville | 801 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Antioch | 78 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Thompson Lane | 18 cfs | → |
| Browns Creek At State Fairgrounds At Nashville | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walter Hill Lake.
Boat launches
- East Jefferson Pike Rutherford County
- West Jefferson Pike 3507, Murfreesboro
- North Thompson Lane 2160, Murfreesboro
- Murfreesboro's Stones River Greenway System, Murfreesboro
- Mona Road 12801, Murfreesboro
- Jefferson Springs Rec Area Smyrna
Track Walter Hill Lake 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 Walter Hill Lake
Where does the data for Walter Hill Lake 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 Significant 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 Walter Hill Lake.