Tellico Dam
Tellico Dam is an earth dam located in Monroe County, Tennessee, built in 1914. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Tellico Dam
Tellico Dam is a dam in Monroe, Tennessee. The dam is owned by Lake Tellico Club (private). It impounds the Quarry Creek near Tellico Plains.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 206 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 942 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1914, the structure is over a century 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/17/2025.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Monroe |
| Nearest City | Tellico Plains |
| River/Stream | Quarry Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.34694, -84.28472 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Length | 206 ft |
| Year Completed | 1914 (112 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 942 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 942 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 402 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Lake Tellico Club |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN12301 |
| Federal ID | TN12301 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |