Radnor Dam
Radnor Dam is an earth dam located in Davidson County, Tennessee, built in 1917. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Radnor Dam
The primary purpose of Radnor Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Tdec (state). It impounds the Otter Creek near Oak Hill.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 75 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1917, the structure is over a century 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/07/2025.
At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Davidson |
| Nearest City | Oak Hill |
| River/Stream | Otter Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.06194, -86.80750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1917 (109 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,321 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 75 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Tdec |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/07/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN03711 |
| Federal ID | TN03711 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |