Great Falls Dam dam
Great Falls Dam
Great Falls Dam, also known as Great Falls Lake, is a federally-owned hydroelectric structure located in Carthage, Tennessee. Completed in 1916 by Tennessee Electric Power, this concrete gravity dam stands at a height of 82 feet and has a structural height of 92 feet. It spans 800 feet in length and has a storage capacity of 64,800 acre-feet, with a maximum discharge rate of 162,500 cubic feet per second. The dam sits on the Caney Fork River and serves as a vital source of hydroelectric power in the region.
Managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Great Falls Dam has a hazard potential rated as high due to its very high risk assessment. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 450 feet and tainter (radial) outlet gates. Over the years, it has undergone structural modifications in 1925 and 1989 to ensure its continued safe operation. While the current condition assessment is not available, regular inspections are conducted every two years to monitor its integrity and safety. The dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the area.
With its rich history and important role in providing hydroelectric power, Great Falls Dam stands as a testament to engineering excellence and responsible water resource management. Situated in White County, Tennessee, the dam not only harnesses the power of the Caney Fork River but also contributes to flood control and recreational opportunities in the region. As a key infrastructure owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Great Falls Dam is a critical piece of the region's water resource and climate adaptation puzzle, ensuring sustainable development and environmental stewardship 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 Great Falls Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Collins River Near Mcminnville | 198 cfs | → |
| Calfkiller River At Hwy 111 Below Sparta | 282 cfs | → |
| Falling Water River Near Cookeville | 41 cfs | → |
| Smith Fork At Temperance Hall | 19 cfs | → |
| Duck River Below Manchester | 41 cfs | → |
| Bradley Creek Nr Prairie Plains | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Great Falls Dam.
Campgrounds
- Backcountry Camp 2
- Backcountry Camp 1
- Floating Mill - Center Hill Lake
- Holmes Creek - Center Hill Lake
- Backcountry Camp 3
- Edgar Evins State Park
Track Great Falls 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 Great Falls Dam
Where does the data for Great Falls 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 Great Falls Dam.