...the failure of the Wolf Creek Dam?

By way of today's Tennessean, it appears that the Corps of Engineers is working with federal, state, and local agencies to address the issue of aging infrastructure in the Cumberland River Valley:

The potential for a catastrophic failure of the aging Wolf Creek Dam in Kentucky has many Middle Tennessee emergency planners mulling a Katrina-like scenario and preparing evacuation plans.

A break at the dam, where damp spots indicate growing seepage, could send the contents of the largest reservoir east of the Mississippi River roaring down the Cumberland River.

In a worst-case scenario, major flooding would occur in Celina, Hartsville, Gallatin, Hendersonville, Mt. Juliet, Goodlettsville, Lakewood and Nashville, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Corps officials say that while a large-scale disaster is possible, it's not likely, and they're monitoring the situation closely.

The Corps' performance during Katrina is not entirely reassuring.

If you live along the corridor, it might be a good idea to reassess your home insurance policy for catastrophic flooding...

A visit to the Corps of Engineers Nashville region website reveals the following information:

Why did the work in the 60's and 70's not fix the problem?

The emergency grouting done in the late 1960's was a temporary measure to prevent sudden dam failure. It was never considered a permanent solution to the seepage problems through the foundation of the dam. The diaphragm walls installed in the late 1970's were considered permanent solutions, however, the wall along the crest of the dam was not long or deep enough to block all the seepage paths in the foundation. The extent of these walls was affected by funding and other constraints.

If a trigger event such as a sinkhole develops , what will happen?

The lake level would be dropped as rapidly as possible and may cause flooding downstream. Most of the downstream communities would be affected below the dam such as Burkesville, KY, Celina, TN, Carthage, TN, Nashville, TN and even Clarksville, TN.

Are there other dams in the Nashville District with serious seepage problems besides Wolf Creek Dam ?

Yes, Center Hill Dam has foundation seepage problems through both the right abutment and left rim due to large solution features (caves) within the limestone formations.

And check out the "disaster scenario" map for Nashville.

That's assuming a water level of 710' behind the Wolf Creek Dam, and also assuming that the Cordell Hull Dam and Old Hickory Dam hold.

The good news: the Corps is working to shore up the dam, to the tune of over $300 million over the next 8 years.

The bad news: Who knows. Don't say you weren't warned, because it's obvious that this government won't know how to help in the event of an actual emergency.