Tom Austin dam
Tom Austin
Tom Austin is a picturesque earth dam located in Camp Clyde Austin, Tennessee, along the Richland Creek. Built in 1956 by the USDA NRCS, this private recreational structure stands at a hydraulic height of 15.3 feet and a structural height of 27.3 feet, with a length of 384 feet. With a storage capacity of 186 acre-feet and a surface area of 12 acres, Tom Austin serves as a beloved spot for water and climate enthusiasts to enjoy the outdoors.
Despite its significant hazard potential, Tom Austin has not been rated for its condition assessment. The dam, made of stone and earth with rock and soil foundations, has a spillway width of 0 feet and no outlet gates. While the dam has not undergone recent modifications and lacks an emergency action plan, its risk assessment is moderate, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts are drawn to Tom Austin not only for its recreational opportunities but also for its historical significance and natural beauty. Situated in Greene County, Tennessee, this dam represents a blend of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship, making it a must-visit destination for those passionate about sustainable water management and climate resilience.
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 Tom Austin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nolichucky River Below Nolichucky Dam | 535 cfs | → |
| Big Limestone Creek Near Limestone | 28 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Hot Springs | 666 cfs | → |
| Nolichucky River Near Lowland | 685 cfs | → |
| French Broad River Near Newport | 760 cfs | → |
| Pigeon River At Newport | 264 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tom Austin.
Boat launches
- French Broad Boat Launch
- T V A Road, Rogersville
- Beech Creek Boat Ramp
- Malinda Ferry Road, Rogersville
- Redmon Road Madison County
- Jesus Church Road, Mooresburg
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 100.6) To Mine Branch (Rm 99.3)
- Boundary Between Mitchell And Yancy Counties To Nc/Tn Stateline
- Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
More reservoirs
Track Tom Austin 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 Tom Austin
Where does the data for Tom Austin 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 Tom Austin.