Elk River Dam
Elk River Dam is a concrete dam located in Franklin County, Tennessee. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Elk River Dam
The primary purpose of Elk River Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usaf Afmc (federal). It impounds the Elk River near Estill Srings.
The dam stands 82 feet tall and stretches 2,943 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,910 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 101,844 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 263 square miles.
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 03/02/2022.
At 82 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Franklin |
| Nearest City | Estill Srings |
| River/Stream | Elk River |
| Coordinates | 35.29817, -86.09705 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 82 ft |
| Dam Height | 82 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,943 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 101,844 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 101,844 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 77,915 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,910 acres |
| Drainage Area | 263 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 101,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USAF AFMC |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN05101 |
| Federal ID | TN05101 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |