Clear Creek Dam
Clear Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Bristol County, Virginia, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Clear Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Clear Creek 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 Clear Creek near Bristol.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 670 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 130 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,660 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 08/13/2025.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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 Virginia 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 | Virginia |
| County | Bristol |
| Nearest City | Bristol |
| River/Stream | Clear Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.66300, -82.11954 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 670 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,660 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,660 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,776 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 130 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,420 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA191002 |
| Federal ID | VA191002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |