Canterbury Dam
Canterbury Dam is an earth dam located in Cumberland County, Tennessee, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Canterbury Dam
Canterbury Dam is a dam in Cumberland, Tennessee. The dam is owned by Fairfield Glade Community Club (private). It impounds the Bagwell Branch near Dorton.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 1,030 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 47 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 729 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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. 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 12/22/2025.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% 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 | Cumberland |
| Nearest City | Dorton |
| River/Stream | Bagwell Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.99833, -84.91278 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,030 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 729 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 729 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 581 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Fairfield Glade Community Club |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/22/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN03511 |
| Federal ID | TN03511 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |