Fort Patrick Henry Dam
Fort Patrick Henry Dam is a concrete dam located in Sullivan County, Tennessee, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Fort Patrick Henry Dam
The primary purpose of Fort Patrick Henry 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 South Fork Holston River near Kingsport.
The dam stands 95 feet tall and stretches 625 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 840 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 31,728 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,903 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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 02/05/2025.
At 95 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 | Sullivan |
| Nearest City | Kingsport |
| River/Stream | South Fork Holston River |
| Coordinates | 36.49795, -82.50876 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Length | 625 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 31,728 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 31,728 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 25,779 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 840 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,903 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 164,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 02/05/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN16307 |
| Federal ID | TN16307 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |