Douglas Dam
Douglas Dam is a concrete dam located in Sevier County, Tennessee, built in 1943. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Douglas Dam
The primary purpose of Douglas 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 French Broad River near Knoxville.
The dam stands 202 feet tall and stretches 1,705 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 28,070 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,626,060 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4,541 square miles. Completed in 1943, 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 02/10/2025.
At 202 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 | Sevier |
| Nearest City | Knoxville |
| River/Stream | French Broad River |
| Coordinates | 35.96122, -83.53842 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 202 ft |
| Dam Height | 141 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,705 ft |
| Year Completed | 1943 (83 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,626,060 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,626,060 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,223,511 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 28,070 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4,541 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 422,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 02/10/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN15501 |
| Federal ID | TN15501 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |