J. Percy Priest Dam
J. Percy Priest Dam is a concrete dam located in Davidson County, Tennessee, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About J. Percy Priest Dam
The primary purpose of J. Percy Priest Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Nashville District (federal). It impounds the Stones River near Nashville.
The dam stands 147 feet tall and stretches 2,716 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14,200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 652,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 892 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/16/2022.
At 147 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Davidson |
| Nearest City | Nashville |
| River/Stream | Stones River |
| Coordinates | 36.15631, -86.61879 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 147 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,716 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 652,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 652,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 202,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14,200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 892 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 263,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Nashville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/16/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN03701 |
| Federal ID | TN03701 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |