South Holston Dam dam
South Holston Dam
South Holston Dam, located on the South Fork Holston River in Tennessee, is a remarkable structure designed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1950, this rockfill dam stands at an impressive height of 285 feet and has a storage capacity of 890,367 acre-feet, making it a crucial element in managing water resources in the region.
Not only does South Holston Dam serve as a flood control measure, but it also supports hydroelectric power generation, recreational activities, and water supply for the surrounding areas. With a surface area of 7,600 acres and a drainage area of 703 square miles, the dam plays a significant role in regulating water flow and ensuring a balance in the ecosystem.
Despite its high hazard potential, South Holston Dam has been maintained by the Tennessee Valley Authority to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, outlet gates, and various associated structures demonstrate the complexity of this critical infrastructure that continues to provide essential services while being a symbol of sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 South Holston Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Creek At Bristol | 13 cfs | → |
| Watauga River At Elizabethton | 335 cfs | → |
| Doe River At Elizabethton | 293 cfs | → |
| S F Holston River Near Damascus | 160 cfs | → |
| M F Holston River Near Meadowview | 81 cfs | → |
| Watauga River Near Sugar Grove | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Holston Dam.
Boat launches
- Holston View Dam Road Sullivan County
- Sullivan County
- Big Springs Road 244, Sullivan County
- Dry Branch Road 1293, Bluff City
- Highway 390 4100-4240, Bluff City
Campgrounds
- Little Oak
- Little Oak Campground
- Jacobs Creek Rec Area
- Jacobs Creek Campground
- Jacobs Creek Recreation Area
- Low Gap Camp
Fishing spots
- Watauga River
- Big Horse Creek
- Bark Camp Recreation Area
- Nolichucky River
- Lake Keokee Day Use Area
- Dillard Place
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- Green Cove--Jefferson Nf Near Confluence Of Star Hill Branch To Confluence With Whitetop Laurel
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
- Confluence With Guest River To Confluence With Little Stony Creek
- Fs Route 700 To Confluence With Clinch River
Track South Holston 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 South Holston Dam
Where does the data for South Holston 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 South Holston Dam.