Burks Dam is an earth dam located in Dyer County, Tennessee, built in 2002. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 535 ft long, taller than 80% 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 Burks Dam
The primary purpose of Burks Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Burks, W. E. (private).
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 535 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 90 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 2002, the structure is relatively new.
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 04/28/2022.
At 35 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 | Dyer |
| Coordinates | 36.06278, -89.41528 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 535.3 ft |
| Year Completed | 2002 (24 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 68 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Burks, W. E. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 04/28/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN04525 |
| Federal ID | TN04525 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |