Cheatham Lock and Dam is a gravity dam located in Dickson County, Tennessee, built in 1954. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 75 ft75 ft tall and 981 ft long, taller than 97% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Cheatham Lock and Dam
The primary purpose of Cheatham Lock and Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by USACE - Nashville District (federal). It impounds the Cumberland River near Nashville.
The dam stands 75 feet tall and stretches 981 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7,450 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 104,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14,160 square miles. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/20/2024.
At 75 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Dickson |
| Nearest City | Nashville |
| River/Stream | Cumberland River |
| Coordinates | 36.31951, -87.22280 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Length | 981 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 104,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 104,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 84,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7,450 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14,160 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 93,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Nashville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 03/20/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN02101 |
| Federal ID | TN02101 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |