Yellow Nugget dam
Yellow Nugget
Yellow Nugget is a privately owned dam located in Monroe, Tennessee, along the Witt Branch river or stream. Built in 1967, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 18.1 feet and has a hydraulic height of 13.6 feet, with a length of 186 feet. The dam primarily serves for recreational purposes and has a storage capacity of 78 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 36 acre-feet.
Managed by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program, Yellow Nugget is classified as having a low hazard potential and is in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in May 2018. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam has a history of meeting safety guidelines and inspections, with a regular inspection frequency of 3 years. The spillway type is uncontrolled, and there are no outlet gates associated with the structure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Yellow Nugget presents a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of human infrastructure and environmental conservation. Its location in a scenic area with a small drainage area of 0.93 square miles makes it an ideal spot for recreational activities while also highlighting the importance of responsible dam management in mitigating risks and ensuring safety for surrounding communities.
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 Yellow Nugget -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tellico River At Tellico Plains | 131 cfs | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 259 cfs | → |
| Valley River At Tomotla | 116 cfs | → |
| Oostanaula Creek Near Sanford | 32 cfs | → |
| Hiwassee River At Charleston | 10,400 cfs | → |
| Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco | 141 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Yellow Nugget.
Boat launches
- Towee Creek Launch
- Apalachia Powerhouse Launch
- Powerhouse Road 820-832, Reliance
- Ellis Creek Road 155, Reliance
- Hiwassee Dam Access Road 4692, Murphy
- Highway 30 5514, Benton
Campgrounds
- Hunt's Lodge Motorcycle Campground
- Holly Flats Campground
- Holly Flats
- Big Lost Creek
- Lost Creek Campground
- North River Composite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 48.0) To Tn360 Bridge (Rm 30.0)
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
Track Yellow Nugget 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 Yellow Nugget
Where does the data for Yellow Nugget 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 Low 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 Yellow Nugget.