Tims Ford Dam
Tims Ford Dam is a rockfill dam located in Franklin County, Tennessee, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Tims Ford Dam
The primary purpose of Tims Ford 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 Tva (federal). It impounds the Elk River near Fayetteville.
The dam stands 175 feet tall and stretches 1,580 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10,500 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 824,312 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 529 square miles. Completed in 1970, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/11/2025.
At 175 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Fayetteville |
| River/Stream | Elk River |
| Coordinates | 35.19684, -86.27855 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 175 ft |
| Dam Height | 163 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,580 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 824,312 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 824,312 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 529,983 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10,500 acres |
| Drainage Area | 529 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 140,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/11/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN05102 |
| Federal ID | TN05102 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |