Old Hickory Lock And Dam
Old Hickory Lock And Dam is a concrete dam located in Davidson County, Tennessee, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Old Hickory Lock And Dam
The primary purpose of Old Hickory 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 98 feet tall and stretches 3,750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 22,500 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 545,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11,674 square miles. Completed in 1954, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/13/2023.
At 98 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Davidson |
| Nearest City | Nashville |
| River/Stream | Cumberland River |
| Coordinates | 36.29640, -86.65593 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 98 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 545,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 545,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 420,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 22,500 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11,674 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 236,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Nashville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN03702 |
| Federal ID | TN03702 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |