Gaging Station

This is an old gaging station tower that still stands along the banks of the Tennessee River near downtown Knoxville. The US Geological Survey folks use them to monitor water height, temperature, and water chemistry. I don't know if this one is still in service - it looks old and abandoned.

Of course, if the water level ever reaches the height of the tower, I'd say we wouldn't need a gage to know we were in deep trouble.