Sycamore Dam
Sycamore Dam is an earth dam located in Henderson County, Tennessee, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Sycamore Dam
The primary purpose of Sycamore 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 Dry Branch near Lexington.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 980 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 224 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,820 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/05/2025.
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Location
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Henderson |
| Nearest City | Lexington |
| River/Stream | Dry Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.56666, -88.37888 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 980 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,820 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,820 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,020 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 224 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,466 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/05/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN07707 |
| Federal ID | TN07707 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |