Dale Hollow Dam
Dale Hollow Dam is a gravity dam located in Clay County, Tennessee, built in 1943. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Dale Hollow Dam
The primary purpose of Dale Hollow 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 Usace - Nashville District (federal). It impounds the Obey River near Celina.
The dam stands 200 feet tall and stretches 1,717 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 27,700 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,706,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 935 square miles. Completed in 1943, 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 03/27/2023.
At 200 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 | Clay |
| Nearest City | Celina |
| River/Stream | Obey River |
| Coordinates | 36.53759, -85.45131 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 200 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,717 ft |
| Year Completed | 1943 (83 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,706,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,706,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 857,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 27,700 acres |
| Drainage Area | 935 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 175,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Nashville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN02702 |
| Federal ID | TN02702 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |