Bedford Lake Dam
Bedford Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Bedford County, Tennessee, built in 1940. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bedford Lake Dam
Bedford Lake Dam is a dam in Bedford, Tennessee. The dam is owned by Twra (state). It impounds the Doddy Creek near Shelbyville.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 672 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 42 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 770 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1940, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/02/2025.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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 Tennessee 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 | Tennessee |
| County | Bedford |
| Nearest City | Shelbyville |
| River/Stream | Doddy Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.50000, -86.25278 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 672 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 770 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 770 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 390 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Twra |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/02/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN00304 |
| Federal ID | TN00304 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |