Walden Ridge Dam is an earth dam located in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, built in 2011. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 600 ft long, taller than 83% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Walden Ridge Dam
The primary purpose of Walden Ridge Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Walden's Ridge Lake Poa (private). It impounds the Ferny Branch.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 72 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,340 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 2011, the structure is relatively new.
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 11/06/2025.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 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 | Bledsoe |
| River/Stream | Ferny Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.43194, -85.20556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 2011 (15 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,340 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,340 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 830 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 72 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Walden's Ridge Lake Poa |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/06/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN00718 |
| Federal ID | TN00718 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |