Chickamauga Dam
Chickamauga Dam is a concrete dam located in Hamilton County, Tennessee, built in 1940. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Chickamauga Dam
The primary purpose of Chickamauga 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 Tva (federal). It impounds the Tennessee River near Chattanooga.
The dam stands 129 feet tall and stretches 5,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 36,050 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 737,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 20,790 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/17/2025.
At 129 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Hamilton |
| Nearest City | Chattanooga |
| River/Stream | Tennessee River |
| Coordinates | 35.10467, -85.22908 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 129 ft |
| Dam Height | 129 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 737,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 737,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 622,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 36,050 acres |
| Drainage Area | 20,790 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 685,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN06504 |
| Federal ID | TN06504 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |