Watauga Dam
Watauga Dam is a rockfill dam located in Carter County, Tennessee, built in 1948. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Watauga Dam
The primary purpose of Watauga 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 Watauga River near Elizabethton.
The dam stands 332 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6,440 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 751,557 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 468 square miles. Completed in 1948, 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 03/27/2025.
At 332 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 | Carter |
| Nearest City | Elizabethton |
| River/Stream | Watauga River |
| Coordinates | 36.32298, -82.12260 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 332 ft |
| Dam Height | 332 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 751,557 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 751,557 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 569,121 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6,440 acres |
| Drainage Area | 468 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 54,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN01903 |
| Federal ID | TN01903 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |