Cherokee Dam
Cherokee Dam is a concrete dam located in Jefferson County, Tennessee, built in 1941. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Cherokee Dam
The primary purpose of Cherokee 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 Holston River near Strawberry Plains.
The dam stands 175 feet tall and stretches 6,760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 29,560 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,699,431 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3,428 square miles. Completed in 1941, 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 12/19/2024.
At 175 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 | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Strawberry Plains |
| River/Stream | Holston River |
| Coordinates | 36.16663, -83.49815 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 175 ft |
| Dam Height | 122 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1941 (85 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,699,431 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,699,431 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,421,811 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 29,560 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3,428 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 315,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 12/19/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN08903 |
| Federal ID | TN08903 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |