Luther #5 Dam is an earth dam located in Dickson County, Tennessee, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 220 ft long. 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 Luther #5 Dam
The primary purpose of Luther #5 Dam is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam maintains a small impoundment used for fire suppression, livestock watering, or as a fish pond. The dam is owned by Malone, David (private). It impounds the Trib-nails Creek.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 220 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 30 acre-feet. Completed in 1950, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 11/02/2020.
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 |
| River/Stream | Trib-nails Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.02361, -87.25639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 220 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | Malone, David |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/02/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN04322 |
| Federal ID | TN04322 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |