Fall Creek Falls Dam
Fall Creek Falls Dam is an earth dam located in Van Buren County, Tennessee, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Fall Creek Falls Dam
Fall Creek Falls Dam is a dam in Van Buren, Tennessee. The dam is owned by Tdec (state). It impounds the Falls Creek near Sweetgum.
The dam stands 75 feet tall and stretches 1,050 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 250 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,393 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1970, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/03/2025.
At 75 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Van Buren |
| Nearest City | Sweetgum |
| River/Stream | Falls Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.66278, -85.35694 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,050 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,393 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,393 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 250 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Tdec |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/03/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN17501 |
| Federal ID | TN17501 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |