Lake Tansi Dam
Lake Tansi Dam is an earth dam located in Cumberland County, Tennessee, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Tansi Dam
Lake Tansi Dam is a dam in Cumberland, Tennessee. The dam is owned by Lake Tansi Village P.o.a. (private). It impounds the Basses Creek near Linary.
The dam stands 69 feet tall and stretches 2,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 425 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,806 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/12/2025.
At 69 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 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 | Cumberland |
| Nearest City | Linary |
| River/Stream | Basses Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.86278, -85.06639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 69 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,806 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,806 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 425 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Lake Tansi Village P.o.a. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/12/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN03504 |
| Federal ID | TN03504 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |