Cumberland Dam
Cumberland Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Alabama, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Cumberland Dam
The primary purpose of Cumberland Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Cumberland C Club (private). It impounds the Tr-gurley Creek near Masseyline.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 760 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 910 acre-feet. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Alabama dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Alabama |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Masseyline |
| River/Stream | Tr-gurley Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.77251, -86.67297 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Length | 760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 910 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 910 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 690 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 1,440 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LAKE CUMBERLAND C CLUB |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL01462 |
| Federal ID | AL01462 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |