Dickson Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Dickson County, Tennessee, built in 1935. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 495 ft long, taller than 83% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Dickson Lake Dam
Dickson Lake Dam is a dam in Dickson, Tennessee. The dam is owned by City of Dickson (local government). It impounds the East Piney River near Dickson.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 495 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 360 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1935, 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. 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 01/21/2025.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Dickson |
| Nearest City | Dickson |
| River/Stream | East Piney River |
| Coordinates | 36.07972, -87.40389 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 495 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 250 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | City of Dickson |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/21/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN04301 |
| Federal ID | TN04301 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |